Western Technical College Newsletter

Thank You from the President!

On behalf of Western Technical College students, faculty, staff and administration, I would like to thank each and every business and organization that has supported the educational endeavors that Western Technical College offers. Each of you is a vital component in the education process from Advisory Boards, student presentations, mock interviews, externship sites, and more. We want you to know that we appreciate the commitment from businesses and organizations like you that assist in engaging students in college related activities to expand and develop their futures as graduates in their chosen field.

Past, Present and Future Growth
2007 will bring on more opportunity for educational achievement and growth with our newly expanding facility at the Diana campus. The facility will house our Biomedical Technology Program and provides room to grow in the future. Several new Programs have recently started to include Massage Therapy and Performance Tuner. Massages will be offered to the public while students are gaining hands on experience in the early part of the year and working towards being apart of the Programs first graduating class in April . WTC is also excited to begin partnering with local business professionals in both of these new Program fields.WTC is working on developing an Alumni Organization to bring recognition to our graduates’ accomplishments in their careers and as mentors to those around them, while connecting alumni to each other.

In 2006 Western Technical College is proud and thankful to have been mentioned in over 45 publications and newscasts and to have received the honorable award for the Best Little Website on the Border by El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at the 2006 Biz Tech Expo. We held four major community events at our facilities, provided customized training for businesses, and hosted  many complimentary seminars at the newest Mission Valley campus facilities in the lower valley.

Community
As always, WTC will continue to give back and support our community as it has supported us. WTC’s Medical Assisting Program can be found at health fairs across El Paso providing free health screenings and education, staff members remain active in raising dollars for student scholarships and WTC has plans to develop an ongoing educational scholarship fund.

Once again, we thank you for your support and we look forward to continuing our relationship with the community in 2007.  Best wishes to all.

Sincerely,

Allan Sharpe
President

College Week Takes Admissions Throughout El Paso

Just recently, WTC’s Admissions team attended College week at six local and surrounding area high schools. The team met and greeted about 700 junior and senior students per day at each school.  Students were provided with information about WTC Programs and scholarships available to them. Jerry Martin, Director of Admissions says, “Thanks to all the high school staff and their support during College Week, our team caught the interest of about 1500 students interested in WTC Programs. It’s very satisfying to be able to educate soon to be high school graduates about opportunities that they may have never known to be available to them.”  

Refrigeration & HVAC Technology Hosts Guest Lectures Throughout November

Two truly great seminars were coordinated by the Refrigeration & HVAC Technology Department for students and staff during the month of November. On November 7th, Mr. Anthony Quinn, from The Mastercool Company of Randolph, New Jersey, presented a seminar featuring the latest tools and equipment used in the Refrigeration field. The company gave WTC a sneak peak of some of their new items that will be offered in the Spring of 2007. This event was sponsored by Contractors Heating & Supply of El Paso and by Mitchell Enterprises of Dallas. The presentation by Mr. Quinn was enthusiastically received by all the students.

On November 13th, the Manitowoc Mobile Expo Unit that travels throughout the U.S. surprised the students and staff of Western Technical College with a brief visit and presentation of the latest in the Manitowoc line. The line included the Model S Ice machine, Kolpack walk-ins (the mobile unit in itself was a walk-in cooler), and McCall refrigeration equipment for the food service industry. The event was sponsored by Contractors Heating & Supply in El Paso, EMI Marketing and Southern Ice Equipment, both of Albuquerque, NM.

Charlie Ellis, of Contractors Heating & Supply and a sponsor of both events says, “We like to get involved to bring additional training to the students studying in the field of HVAC & Refrigeration. I want them to know more about tools and innovations that are available. I also try to introduce the externship concept of the WTC curriculum to our contractors to let them know it is available for their asking at no cost to them. We want students to stay in El Paso.”

To view more photos of these events, visit the gallery at www.wtc-ep.edu

Medical Assisting Surprises Pediatric Ward With Gifts

On November 8, cheerfully dressed in bright hues of red as reindeers and elves, the Medical Assisting Faculty and Staff delivered toys to the children at the Thomason Hospital pediatric ward. Sylvia Aguilar, externship coordinator said, “This is something that the faculty and staff have been doing during the month of December for about four years now.  This is our second year at Thomason Hospital.” Aguilar adds, “The staff at Thomason Hospital is just so inviting and very grateful to have us.”

Although students of the program could not be at the delivery, they were partially responsible for the over 400 toys that were delivered to the little ones. The staff went from room to room, like a traveling toy store while giving each child the opportunity to pick what they wanted, dimming their pain for just a little while! “Nothing is more satisfying to see a smile on their little faces!” said Petra York, Program Manager for the Medical Assisting Department.

To view more photos of the MA Faculty & Staffs visit to Thomason Hospital visit the gallery at www.wtc-ep.edu

Alamo Auto Glass Law Presentation

Automotive students were excited to take part in an Auto Glass Installation and Technology Law seminar held during the afternoon on November 15. The seminar was presented by Ed Venegas of Alamo Auto Glass. WTC is grateful to Alamo Auto Glass for the educational seminars that they continue to hold for students at the campus.

To view more photos of this event, visit the gallery at www.wtc-ep.edu

Branch Campus Job Fair a Success!

Thanks to WTC Career Services Department, during the month of November, students had the opportunity to talk one on one with over 48 different companies at the second job fair of the year, held at WTC’s branch campus in Northeast El Paso. WTC welcomed employers who attended WTC’s Diana campus job fair for the first time to include ADP, Datamark, Stanton Street Technology, Optek Technology, Techmaster Electronics, Varay Systems, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Sears, Innovei International, Cognent, Inc. IBR-Plasma, El Paso Foot Care, Medical Center Lab, and El Paso First Health Plan. Due to the incredible employer participation, about 21 students were hired with some, still going through the interview process.

Employers were treated to lunch and entered into several drawings. Congratulations to Javier Elizondo of IBR Plasma, who won the Southwest Airlines drawing at the luncheon. If you are an employer and missed the opportunity to participate, don’t worry, WTC Career Services will be more than happy to put you on their special invite list for next year!

For More Information: Employers in the fields of Computer, Electronics, IT, Fiber Optics, Communications, A+, CISCO, Microsoft, Medical Assisting, Health Information, Biomedical and Massage Therapy Contact (915)566-9621. For More Information Employers in the fields of Automotive, ASE Testing, Diesel, Refrigeration HVAC, Performance Tuner, Welding, Medical Assisting and Health Information Contact (915)532-3737.

To view more photos of the WTC Branch Campus Job Fair visit the gallery at www.wtc-ep.edu

Toy Donations Accepted Until December 15

Western Technical College will continue to collect toys until December 15 at both campuses. The 2006 El Paso Toy Run was held at the Main Campus on November 4 and event planners suspect more requests than usual for needy children in the coming weeks do to the 2006 flooding in El Paso.

For More Information Call (915)532-3737 or (915) 566-9621.
To view photos of the 2006 El Paso Toy Run visit the gallery at  www.wtc-ep.edu

Tech Blitz EXPO Brings Over 100 Visitors to WTC

If you missed the first annual tech blitz, don’t worry! You will have the opportunity to attend a similar event again in the near future. WTC Computer and Electronics Technology Program Manager Rik Villarreal says, “We are excited to start bringing in a fresh face in technology every quarter!” The recent three day event was held at the Branch campus location in Northeast El Paso from November 30- December 2. Villarreal continues, “It was a real hit for the business, gaming, high school and military community in El Paso. We suspect that in the future we will be seeing more of these communities at these tech events, as the attendees were more than satisfied with their experience.”

The first day of the event was sponsored by INX Inc, a Microsoft Gold Partner, and featured the Microsoft Across America Tour, an interactive truck displaying the latest in technology that Microsoft has to offer. Several Cisco Voice Over IP and Microsoft application presentations were held throughout the day.

Day two consisted of Fiber Optic Training classes given by WTC Instructors and was sponsored by 3M’s Communication Markets Division. The final day of the event brought on the Game Tournament featuring a networked Counterstrike game, PS2 demonstration by Major Players, prizes, and more! “WTC had great help from staff, student volunteers, and sponsors to put this first time ever event together. Everyone deserves a round of applause,” says Villarreal. Don’t Miss the Spring 2006 Tech Blitz EXPO at WTC…Coming Soon!

To view more photos of the Winter Tech Blitz event, visit the gallery at www.wtc-ep.edu