TSTC Automotive Technology student follows in grandfathers’ footsteps

HARLINGEN — Quite a few vehicle aficionados who have a passion for the automotive field established out to realize a desire of developing their own automotive mechanic store.

That is the determination of Jesus Manrique-Garcia, a initially-semester Automotive Technologies college student pursuing an Associate of Used Science degree at Texas Point out Specialized College or university.

Manrique-Garcia formulated an desire in the automotive field by both of those of his grandfathers who are former diesel provider experts from Mexico.

“I resolved to abide by in their footsteps, and my mother stated she would like a person of her sons to be a mechanic,” Manrique-Garcia claimed. “Before I graduated from San Benito Superior School, some TSTC Automotive Technological know-how instructors visited to recruit. Just one teacher stated they have several graduates who have earned excellent profession prospects. I have small expertise, and I want to find out additional. So I enrolled.”

In the initially couple days of the drop semester, Manrique-Garcia liked how the Automotive Technologies instructors spoke about the program’s anticipations.

“They have been extremely apparent about what desires to be attained,” he mentioned.

Manrique-Garcia’s system is to grow to be acquainted with many sorts of cars in purchase to elevate his know-how. He has also expressed an desire to his instructors in discovering about diesel vans.

“My teacher stated that the Diesel Products Know-how application is readily available at the Waco campus after I comprehensive this plan,” he claimed.

Manrique-Garcia claimed he is enthusiastic about the chances that the plan will present.

“Automotive dealerships will constantly need a mechanic,” he explained.

Miguel Zoleta, a TSTC Automotive Know-how teacher at the campus in Harlingen, reported he is fired up to start a semester with quite a few new learners.

“This tumble semester delivers new chances, this sort of as general performance-based education courses with prolonged hrs of procedure,” Zoleta stated. “The Automotive Technological innovation application is now delivering night classes Monday by means of Friday right up until 8 p.m. This will assistance carry in candidates that are performing full-time positions.”

TSTC delivers an Affiliate of Applied Science diploma in Automotive Know-how and an Automotive Technician certificate of completion at the Harlingen, Sweetwater and Waco campuses. Quite a few other certificates, together with Automotive Servicing and Mild Repair service, Chrysler Specialization and Tesla Start Technician, as perfectly as a Fundamental Automotive occupational skills award, are also available relying on campus locale.

The want for qualified automotive support professionals and mechanics is predicted to grow in Texas above the future various several years. In accordance to onetonline.org, Texas employs additional than 60,000 of these professionals close to the point out, and that selection is forecast to leading 65,000 by 2028. The average annual salary for a technician in the point out is $46,680.

For extra information and facts about TSTC, take a look at tstc.edu.