08/19/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/19/2024 11:02
(ROSENBERG, Texas) - The summer semester is coming to a close at Texas State Technical College. Students work hard in their labs and programs, finishing up their final projects and assignments. And some anticipate the end of their classroom studies - and graduation.
Such is the case for two students in the Electrical Power and Controls program at the Fort Bend County campus. Both Cody Davidson and Nathanael Brinson plan to graduate with their Associate of Applied Science degrees on Friday, August. 23.
"I'm originally from New Jersey," Davidson said. "My brother moved out here six years ago to work for Burns & McDonnell (engineering consultants). He and some of his co-workers recommended TSTC as the best place to get a degree."
Brinson's situation is much the same. Having a cousin who graduated from the Cybersecurity program at TSTC, he knew that TSTC was the school he wanted to attend.
"My uncle works for Union Pacific (Railroad) as an electrician," Brinson said. "He really inspired my interest in the program and field."
While both Brinson and Davidson plan on continuing their education after graduation, they also want to get started working. For Davidson, that means looking into a job at Burns & McDonnell where his brother works. For Brinson, he plans on finding work as an electrical technician wherever he can find it.
Both men are part of the first group of students who their instructor, Bill Pyatt, has seen through the entire program. Having started working at TSTC last year, Pyatt is excited for his students' futures.
"My students will come to me and ask about my real-world experience and their resumes and job offers," he said. "It makes me proud to watch them learn and get excited about going into the workforce."
The average annual salary for electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians in Texas is $64,220, according to onetonline.org. The website showed that the need for these specialists in the state was forecast to grow 14% between 2020 and 2030.
TSTC offers Electrical Power and Controls at the Abilene, Fort Bend County, North Texas and Waco campuses. It is part of TSTC's Money-Back Guarantee, which refunds a participating graduate's tuition if he or she has not found a job in their field within six months after graduation.
Registration continues for the fall semester at TSTC. For more information, go to tstc.edu.