Texas Border Business
By Joey Gomez
McALLEN, Texas – Years on the job created the skills that South Texas College Welding faculty member and alumni Jose Garza needed to reach students not just as an educator, but as a mentor and guide into a tough industry.
Reflecting on his journey, more than a decade since he first stepped foot on campus as a student at STC, Garza recalls the inspiration he was first given at the college and what he now conveys to his students.
“It’s a tough industry, but it’s what we do here at STC that propels students into the field and sets them apart,” Garza said. “I want all of my students to go on their first day on the job and fit right in, know the terminology, know the lingo and how to conduct themselves so they can meet the demand that awaits them.”
An Army veteran, Garza said he sought a career in pipeline and refinery welding after his military service, and after enrolling at STC, he completed a combination welding certificate in 2012.
He then set out into the workforce and secured his first job as a structural fitter for Keppel AmFELS at the Port of Brownsville. During that time, Garza said he helped construct offshore oil rigs at the port while gauging the next step in his career.
He soon made the decision to return to STC to further his education and pursue an associate degree in Welding in 2017.
The decision changed his life, he said. Not only did he receive his degree, but his skills and experience soon caught the eye of faculty in the Welding program, who offered him an opportunity to being teaching at the college.
“At Keppel, we built offshore oil rigs from the ground up and then when I actually heard that STC was offering an associate degree, I looked into it and I said, ‘you know what, I want to further my education’ because at the time, I only had a combination welding certificate,” Garza said. “So, while I was here as a student seeking an associate degree, I was approached by faculty who saw that I had years of experience in the industry and that sealed the deal to come on board and teach here at the college. It has been the best decision so far because I have the ability to pass along the information and the skills that I’ve learned not only at STC, but through my experience in the field.”
In a given week Garza said he now teaches at three STC campuses, Mid-Valley, Technology campus and Starr County.
In the nearly eight years since joining the Welding faculty at STC, Garza said he has taught hundreds of students and beams with pride when he receives messages about their success after graduation.
“We all have students who keep in contact with us and who send us videos and pictures from wherever they are and what they are doing, how much they’re making, how much fun they’re having, and it’s just so rewarding to get that feedback from students who thank me for being there for them,” Garza said. “As faculty, we all give it our best because we know our students are the number one priority, so we give them everything they need to succeed. For my part, it also means not just going by the book but showing them what I’ve learned in industry. I want my students to go out there and be prepared on day one.”
For more information on STC’s Welding program visit www.southtexascollege.edu/academics/welding/.
