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Precision Manufacturing Grad Lands GE Aerospace Job at 19

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Precision Manufacturing graduate Keylan Luera says careful planning and determination have enabled him to be among the youngest employed at GE Aerospace. STC iamge
Precision Manufacturing graduate Keylan Luera says careful planning and determination have enabled him to be among the youngest employed at GE Aerospace. STC iamge
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By Joey Gomez

McALLEN, Texas – Keylan Luera credits South Texas College’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) program with helping him enter the workforce at only 19 years old, getting him one step closer to a future career in mechanical engineering.

It’s the realization of a dream that Luera said he has had since he was a child, becoming fascinated with science fiction – especially robots.

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Later attending STC, Luera said he witnessed the design and operation of everything from robotic systems to Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines and electromechanical devices through the college’s Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) Program and was fascinated with all the amazing things the machines could achieve.

It was like seeing a window into his future, he said. 

“STC has helped me improve my skills and my ability to focus,” he said. “I like the challenge of having to adhere to the very strict guidelines of specific machines and parts.”

On his own, Luera said he began planning out a career that began as early as middle school, but really came into focus when he entered high school at Vanguard Academy in Pharr.

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He began taking courses for college credit through STC as a freshman with the goal to get his core classes out of the way. Then through mentors at his school, began looking at a possible career in engineering.

But it wasn’t enough just to study engineering. Luera said he wanted to become involved and find a way to learn it on-the-job.

Years later, Luera said a small part of that dream came true when he was hired as a CNC operator for GE Aerospace and became one of the youngest workers in the company, he said.

“My dream is to enter the field as a mechanical engineer, but I know that a lot of engineering students usually have a hard time with getting the required work experience,” Luera said. “By taking classes in advanced manufacturing at STC, this will definitely allow me to nail down some of those requirements to become an engineer. So along with me getting experience in the workplace, I’m also getting paid on the job, which will help to pay for my future tuition costs.”

While at STC, Luera said he received valuable skills through the college’s AMT program. From blueprint reading to programming and various manufacturing processes, all of the skills helped him on-the-job at GE.

“As a CNC operator, I prepare pieces from the different engines that GE repairs, but instead of machining individual pieces from raw stock, we prepare those pieces by adding what they call a pre-form, and we just shape it back to its original size and dimensions. It’s very fascinating stuff,” Luera said. “It was definitely an eye-opening experience. It’s pretty obvious that there are not that many people my age in the company, and it has been very interesting to witness this unique work environment.”

Luera will now be among the 2,700-plus graduates at STC’s Fall Commencement Ceremonies Sunday at the Bert Odgen Arena, and will receive a Precision Manufacturing Technology Associate of Applied Science.

Making the most of his experience on the job, Luera said it’s important for students looking to enter the field to seize every opportunity they can as early as possible.

 “I had a lot of help along the way, and I had people throughout middle school and high school who definitely helped me realize what type of goals to strive for,” Luera said. “This is my message to all the students looking to make a big splash in their future careers. If they have the opportunity to improve their lives through education, they have to seize the opportunity without fail.”

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