|
Only have a minute? Listen instead |
McALLEN — To mark the unveiling of South Texas College’s new 6,000-square-foot welding facility, Dean of Business, Public Safety and Technology Sara Lozano put on her safety glasses and equipment on, lit her torch and cut right through a red, metal ribbon signifying STC’s newest opportunity for the region Thursday.
Attended by STC administration, welding staff, faculty, students and industry leaders, the new facility on the STC Technology Campus in South McAllen has taken about three years in the making and includes 60 welding booths for standard welding techniques and a brand-new welding process by industry partner Lincoln Electric.
STC President Ricardo Solis called the new welding building a significant turning point in demonstrating how the college is keeping their mission in providing the latest programs and state-of-the-art facilities.
“We respond to the industry and the job demand,” Solis said. “That is our number one priority, and most importantly, that our students are gainfully employed when they finish … We are very confident that we are sure our students (have) a plan for the high-paying, high-demand jobs for many years to come.
“That is how we derived the demand and the decision to build this facility, especially with the LNG, SpaceX and all the other advanced manufacturing operations that are taking place here.”
The new building comes at a cost of nearly $4 million, Solis said.
The welding program has grown to 23 faculty members and offers students the opportunity to receive seven American Welding Society (AWS) certifications, which are recognized internationally by industry.
STC is one of six accredited testing facilities in Texas certified by AWS and among a few programs that can administer tests for the certifications.
STC Welding Program Chair Hector Cavazos, said the main issue was not having enough classes to accommodate students but with the new facility that will be a problem of the past.
“Every semester we’re always at 110% to 122% of enrollment, so our program has always been growing and we needed to do something,” he said. “Never did I envision a shop of this magnitude and it’s complete with everything that we need in here.”
Each booth is brand new, with an independent fume extractor, heaters and the latest technology in welding.
Even including newer machines to keep up with the industry, Cavazos said he wants to make sure his students are ready to use various machines when they go out into the workforce.
Brandon Garcia, an 18-year-old from Edinburg, is in his second semester of the welding program and comes from a family of welders.
Being a second generation welder was the plan straight out of high school for Garcia and is excited he gets to practice his welding passion in the new state-of-the-art facility.
“I’m super excited to try this new facility because they have new technology,” he said. “What I really want to try and get my hands on is the new machines … I know (the new building) is going to be super beneficial for new upcoming welders who are going to use this building.”
Garcia’s advice to anyone interested in a welding career is to never give up.
“Just keep practicing and practicing,” he said. “Burn rods and rods because that’s how one gets better. Practicing makes improvement and improvement leads to new opportunities.”