Special to the NEWS
HARLINGEN—Texas State Technical College’s dual enrollment programs offer high school students an entrance to a college-level education and can prepare them with the skills they need for great-paying jobs.
Rio Hondo High School dual enrollment students Julio Casas, Scott Payne and Bryan Rodriguez recently completed the second semester of TSTC’s Building Construction Technology program.
In the program, students are engaged in hands-on training assignments to learn about blueprints, structural systems, and other areas that reflect different types of construction projects.
Aaron Rios, a TSTC Building Construction Technology instructor in Harlingen, said the dual enrollment students have adapted well to the college-level program.
“Their courses are set out the same (as those of) our current students,” he said. “Casas, Payne and Rodriguez have demonstrated that they are go-getters. I enjoy seeing that effort from them, and they have exceeded my expectations.”
Casas, who is in 10th grade, said there is great communication in the program.
“My instructor, Mr. Rios, makes the learning fun,” he said. “Everyone works together, and that makes me work harder because I enjoy it. That motivated me to work on projects at home as well.”
Payne, who is in 11th grade, said understanding a building’s construction has intrigued him. “I chose this program because I wanted to have a foot in the door to college,” he said. “The instructors teach you about what’s right and wrong and tell you not to give up. My favorite assignment has been when we measured and put on flooring such as plywood.”
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