Breckenridge Texan

By Ben Barkley/TSTC

The runway to a career in aviation maintenance varied for three Texas State Technical College students.

Jacob Mares, Robert Larson and Simon Guijosa are fourth-semester Associate of Applied Science degree students in TSTC’s Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology programs. They have formed a bond with their classmates in the TSTC hangar.

Mares, of Breckenridge, said his family has ties to the aviation industry. “My uncle got his private pilot license and told me all about A&P (airframe and powerplant),” he said. “I knew then that this is what I wanted to do.”

Larson, who is originally from California and now calls Abilene home, said he enjoyed seeing planes when he was growing up. His journey to TSTC started while visiting family members in Taylor County. “I decided to check out the school and decided to begin the program when it was available,” he said.

“TSTC held an open house, and I walked in here to one of the instructors describing the class to the group. He sold me on it,” Guijosa said. “And that was two months before I graduated from (Coleman) high school.”

The time in the hangar working on assignments and the planes is considered the highlight of the week, the students said.

“I like being here with everyone because we want what is best for each other,” Mares said.

Guijosa agreed.

“We want to make sure we are successful in the program so we will have a good career,” he said.

Larson said his experience with TSTC has been positive from the first day. The U.S. Marine Corps veteran said the college makes sure that veterans have the correct information on file so they can begin classes on time.

“The staff helped me get registered and made sure everything was in order,” he said. “My previous experience at other colleges was not like that at all.”

The students also said the teaching style of TSTC’s instructors is unique.

“They are very helpful and will be right there working with you,” Larson said. “The hands-on style of teaching is the best way for me to learn.”

“They share their knowledge, which makes learning so much better,” Mares said.

The need for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in Texas was forecast to grow 16% between 2020 and 2030, according to onetonline.org. The average annual salary for a technician in the state is $77,640, the website stated.

TSTC offers Associate of Applied Science degrees and certificates of completion in both Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology at its Abilene, Harlingen and Waco campuses.

Cutline, top photo: From left, Robert Larson, Simon Guijosa and Jacob Mares are classmates in TSTC’s Aircraft Airframe Technology and Aircraft Powerplant Technology programs. (Photo courtesy of TSTC)