HARLINGEN — Guehovany Hernandez and his father have always had a strong bond. His dad, who worked as a contractor, introduced him to the construction field when he was a teenager.

“As I grew older, I developed an interest in industrial construction,” Hernandez said. “I realized there was a demand for a drafter in that field to create architectural drawings. My father encouraged me to pursue drafting in college because they’re involved in the construction process. I did an online search and learned that Drafting and Design was offered at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen.”

Not only did Hernandez recently graduate from TSTC with a certificate of completion in Engineering Graphics and Design Technology, but he also found a job before he graduated with Bechtel, an engineering, construction and project management company, at its Brownsville facility.

“I was hired as a party chief with the survey department at Bechtel last July (2023),” he said. “I held that job for six months, and was promoted to a chief of parties for another six months in the same department. With my new degree, I’ve been promoted to an office surveyor. I will oversee the survey program, supervise the survey crew and have other duties.”

Brandon Graham is a lead surveyor for Bechtel.

“Guehovany is ambitious and a quick learner,” he said. “His persistence to assist in all areas of the job is great because he enjoys learning.”

Hernandez said the work culture at Bechtel is rewarding.

“I’ve really enjoyed the training opportunities that I’ve participated in,” he said.

Kimberly De Leon was Hernandez’s mechanical drafting instructor at TSTC.

“Guehovany is a motivated individual with a genuine desire to create a better life for himself,” she said. “When he was faced with challenges in our program, he was resourceful, proactive, and found solutions independently.”

Hernandez said the training that he received at TSTC prepared him well for his career.

“Mrs. De Leon made detailed instructional videos for the students that helped guide us if we didn’t pass a mastery,” he said. “But she challenged us to learn the answer. It caused me to hold myself accountable for my actions with class assignments.”

According to onetonline.org, architectural and civil drafters earn an average salary of $58,540 in Texas, where the number of such jobs was projected to increase 15% between 2020 and 2030.

In Drafting and Design, TSTC offers Associate of Applied Science degrees in Architectural/Civil Drafting Technology, Architectural Design and Engineering Graphics Technology, and Engineering Graphics and Design Technology, as well as several certificates of completion.

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.

HARLINGEN — As the first day of Texas State Technical College’s fall semester inched closer, new students at the Harlingen campus were welcomed by TSTC’s team on move-in day to settle into their dorm rooms. Classes started on Sept. 3.

Among the new students were Alma Campos, Brian Charlson and Ulysses Melendez. Each student shared why they chose to study at TSTC.

Campos, of Laredo, is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene. She said a positive experience that she had as a teenager with a team of dental professionals motivated her to give back.

“The dentist and the team were very compassionate when I was about to have a teeth cleaning,” she said. “Last year I studied dental assisting at a college in my hometown. I told my former instructor that I wanted to be a dental hygienist. She suggested that I research the Dental Hygiene program at TSTC. I visited with the instructors and saw the program’s facility. I’m excited to start learning.”

Charlson, of Seguin, is pursuing a certificate of completion in Wind Energy Technician. He chose to study a career field that he was unfamiliar with.

“I wanted to try something new,” he said. “Some friends from my former high school are now doing this job. I researched wind energy schools online, and that’s how I found TSTC.”

Melendez, of Edinburg, is pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree in Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology. He learned that the program offers an incentive.

“The Electrical Lineworker program offers a course to earn a commercial driver’s license,” he said. “Part of the job is to know how to drive a truck. That’s one of many areas in the program that I’m interested in.”

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Yvette Garza-Garcia, who is TSTC’s student housing director in Harlingen, said the fall semester is an exciting time for new students as well as for her team.

“The fall semester is the busiest time for us with students that are living on campus,” she said. “We get to create new experiences and events for them. A suggestion for students is to immerse themselves in the college experience. They should try to live in the dorms, eat at the cafeteria in the Student Center, visit the game room and get involved on campus.”

For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.