TSTC alum and student says his word of the year is ‘learn’

(MARSHALL, Texas) - Texas State Technical College alumnus Jacob Preston recently returned to the Marshall campus to add Automation and Controls Technology to his resume that includes a TSTC degree in Computer Aided Manufacturing.

"I wanted to come back to further my knowledge in the career that I'm currently in," Preston said. "Each year, I have a word of the year, and this year it's 'learn.'"

Preston discovered that he was a hands-on learner early in life, regularly taking things apart and putting them back together. His grandparents lived a short walk from TSTC's Marshall campus, making the college an ideal choice for him after he graduated from high school.

Preston earned his Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Aided Manufacturing (now Precision Machining Technology) in 2008. Today, he is a computer numerical control (CNC) programmer for Kito Crosby, a manufacturer of securement products for rigging, lifting and material handling, at its Longview location where he has been employed for 14 years.

Preston saw an opportunity to continue learning when he discovered the company's reimbursement program.

"I wanted to know the inner workings of all of the sensors and how to program the PLCs (programmable logic controllers) and the conveyors, and tie it into a CNC," he said.

Monique Gray, a production supervisor for The Crosby Group, said Preston sets an example of what hard work and determination can achieve.

"Watching Jacob pursue furthering his education in automation and controls while maintaining such an exceptional level of dedication and reliability at work has been truly inspiring," Gray said. "His commitment to furthering his knowledge and skills, all while excelling in his responsibilities, is a testament to incredible work ethic."

Preston said juggling his full-time job, an education and an infant son is a challenge, but he loves manufacturing and seeing the new faces at TSTC that will one day join him in the workforce. He plans to graduate from the program in spring 2025.

"TSTC means a secure future with the education that they provide," Preston said. "You don't have to have a four-year degree to be successful."

According to onetonline.org, CNC tool programmers earn a median salary of $62,160 in Texas, where the number of these jobs was projected to grow 47% between 2020 and 2030.

Spring registration begins Oct. 28. For more information on TSTC, go to tstc.edu.

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