Latest news with #ofAppliedScience
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
TSTC graduates celebrate, look forward to life's next chapter
May 1—ABILENE — With cheers and applause, friends, family and classmates celebrated the accomplishments of Texas State Technical College's Spring 2025 graduating class on Wednesday, April 30. A majority of the students, when their name was announced, noted that they will begin their careers within the industry they studied. One of those students is Tyler Flippen, who earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Electrical Power and Controls and is going to work at German printing press manufacturer Koenig & Bauer. "Tonight is a milestone that shows that a lot of hard work has paid off," he said. "This is the first reward of knowing the importance of getting our education." Garrett Deroche, who earned a certificate of completion in Welding Technology, already has two job offers to consider and knows that TSTC is the reason why. "Thanks to TSTC, I am going to have a lot of success in life," he said. "I am a better welder, and I am a better teammate." Yvette Escobedo, who received her Associate of Applied Science degree in Paramedic, has a long-range goal. She plans to work for the next few years and then pay her career forward. "I hope that one day I can come back to TSTC and teach the program," she said. Escobedo, who earlier in the day received an Emergency Medical Services program award for outstanding contributions during her time at TSTC, said her classmates became her second family. "We have gone through the trenches together," she said. "We are excited to see where everyone is going to go." Brandy Bird, who received a certificate of completion in Environmental Compliance, knows where she is going to go next. "I am coming back in the fall to study the safety side (of the Occupational Safety and Environmental Compliance program)," she said. Bird said the program meant many things to her, but earning her certificate of completion is an accomplishment that she is most proud of. "This program was a lot of crying, stress and late nights, but it was fun," she said. Registration for TSTC's summer and fall semesters is underway. For more information, go to
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
La Vergne apprenticeship pilot program helps train aspiring firefighters
LA VERGNE, Tenn. (WKRN) — One fire department in Rutherford County is working to train the next generation of first responders while they're still in high school. Eight seniors at La Vergne High School are enrolled in a new apprenticeship pilot program aimed at training students who want to become firefighters someday. That program is made possible through a partnership between the La Vergne Fire Rescue Department, La Vergne High, and Motlow Community College. So far, the group of teens has completed a series of physical tests and written exams. 'I always knew that I wanted to be doing acts of servitude,' Freddie Concepcion, who is enrolled in the program and believes this is the perfect career path for him, told News 2. 'They had us do a cool obstacle course. We had to climb a 75-foot ladder, and we had to do a kettle bell walk, a farmers walk around some cones. It was a really great experience.' As the population grows, La Vergne becomes a hot spot for businesses to develop Those students participated in a Signing Day event, which demonstrates their commitment to the program, on Thursday, Feb. 13. Then, they will begin a 12-week fire academy conducted by the La Vergne Fire Rescue Department and, upon completion, become certified firefighters in Tennessee. After that, the students will be enrolled in Motlow Community College's Paramedic Associate of Applied Science program through the Tennessee Promise. Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship program, students will be certified firefighters in the State of Tennessee with their Firefighter 1 and Firefighter 2 certifications, as well as their Paramedic Associate of Applied Science. Fire officials said this program helps those looking to join with a crucial step. Rutherford County Schools' career program trains workforce 'I think the biggest thing is people don't know how — how do you become a firefighter? How? Because it is a unique trade and there's lot of training and education that has to go into it,' said La Vergne Fire Marshal Curtis Brinkley. The need for more firefighters is apparent in Middle Tennessee and the rest of the country. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows firefighter employment is projected to grow 4% from 2023 to 2033. That report also shows nearly 28,000 openings for the key role are projected each year within the next decade. 'Seeing these young men and women come into this career, what I feel is the best job in the world, it's really exciting. There's so much tradition that's in our profession, and being able to instill those traditions into a new group of firefighters is awesome,' said Brinkley. MTSU's Concrete and Construction program booming for students According to La Vergne fire officials, the program is a big step for the community and they hope to continue it for years to come. 'It's really nice knowing that you have somebody there for you to take you a step further,' said Concepcion. For those interested in the program, it is currently only open to seniors at La Vergne High School, but there are other programs available for younger students. You can reach out to the La Vergne Fire Marshal's Office for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
