Five Texas State Technical College (TSTC) graduates returned to their alma matter, not as students, but as builders, helping deliver the new $72 million Construction Technologies Center where the next generation of trades professionals will be trained.
The 120,000-square-foot facility opened to students on February 2. Texas State Technical College will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 26. At the peak of construction, five TSTC alumni were part of the Rogers-O’Brien Construction (RO) team delivering the project:
- Seth Blanchard, project manager, TSTC Class of 2016
- James Stefka Jr., assistant project manager, TSTC Class of 2016
- Ulises Camacho, field foreman, TSTC Class of 2018
- William Holmes III, quality manager, TSTC Class of 2020
- Daniel Sprinkle, rroject engineer, TSTC Class of 2024.
The project brings together programs previously spread across campus, including Building Construction Technology, Electrical Construction, HVAC Technology, Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology and Solar Energy Technology, creating a centralized hub for hands-on skilled trades education.
For Blanchard, the project was especially meaningful. He graduated from TSTC in 2016, and his connection to the college runs even deeper. His mother is also an alum.
“This place means a lot to my family,” Blanchard said. “TSTC helped launch my career, so getting the chance to come back and build the facility where the next generation will learn these trades is something really special.”
While still a student, Sprinkle joined the project team as an intern and was hired full-time as a project engineer after completing his degree.
“Being part of this team while I was still a student was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Sprinkle said. “Now when I walk through it and see students learning here, it’s pretty amazing knowing we helped create that opportunity.”
The investment comes as demand for skilled trades continues to outpace supply across Texas and the U.S., making workforce development a growing priority for both contractors and educators.
“At RO, we talk about building a better Texas, and that starts with investing in the people who will build it. We’re excited to have built this space because TSTC is preparing the skilled workforce our industry depends on. Seeing their graduates come back to campus to help build this facility makes the project especially meaningful,” said Braylon Byford, director of RO Waco.
