Western Technical College

  The seats were completely filled; the isles were flooded with excited and supportive family and friends; and there was electric eager- energy in the air. Before the recent Fall Commencement Ceremony, a few happy graduates and relatives took a moment to reflect on their educational journeys at Western Technical College (WTC) and their future hopes.

   Matthew Camlin, graduate of the Electronics Engineering Technology Program, and an active military instructor, says he had wanted to attend WTC for a while, but finally it took a friend to encourage him and he enrolled. He says he really appreciated that WTC had evening classes for people like him who work all day. Now, with the benefit of the important industry certifications that WTC has prepared him for, he can move forward with his military career plans. To future students, Camlin recommends keeping an open mind, and he concludes by saying “Western Tech is a very good college especially when it comes to training with the most modern technologies.”

   It would seem everyone has a positive perspective on Western Tech to share: Paloma Jordan sat waiting in the audience to see her nephew Joey Ortiz cross the stage to receive his certificate for completing the Medical/Clinical Assistant Program. Upon being asked if she noticed any differences in her nephew from the time he started at WTC to the time he finished, she replies “Joey is more focused now and more motivated. At first, he wasn’t interested in school, but, now, he loves what he is doing helping people and learning everything he can about the human body.”

  Another Family sits anxiously awaiting their husband and father’s acceptance of his Associates degree. The Gomez family found their seats in the second row from the stage where they could get a good look at their graduate. Veronica Gomez says her husband, Gaston Gomez who is graduated from the Refrigeration & HVAC Technology Program, was an engineer in Juarez, but unfortunately that training and status did not transfer to the US, so in an effort to get certified to open his own business, Gomez, trusted that Western Tech would get him where he needed to achieve his and his families dreams. Mrs. Gomez says she “knows everything is going to get better now” that her husband has earned his certifications thanks to WTC.

    Speakers at the ceremony were student representatives Tina Locklear, Graduate of the Medical/Clinical Assistant Program and Matthew Glidewell, Graduate of the Automotive Fundamentals and Performance Tuner Program. Both students thank Western Tech for caring, professional, and knowledgeable instructors. Locklear spoke of her personal struggle finding herself pregnant and alone after husband had been deployed to South Asia. She uses her story as an example of overcoming “life’s hurdles;” she says “You can do anything, if you believe in yourself and don’t lose hope.”

  The Key Note Speaker Carl L. Robinson, Northeast City of El Paso District Four Representative, stressed the importance to students and the audience of setting and attaining realistic goals. He says, “Together we will make a difference.” Indeed the professionals that have and will graduate from WTC are making a difference in the community. Other important guests included Mary Mena, a WTC Lab Assistant who sang the national Anthem while Burgess High School ROTC guard presented colors.

  As Western Technical College’s (WTC) Fall Commencement Ceremony came to a close in mid October, it was apparent that the University of Texas at El Paso’s Magoffin Auditorium is now too small to contain the multitudes of Western Tech graduates, their family, and friends who attend the ceremonies that are typically held four times a year. However, WTC is proud to announce that in 2010 the ceremonies will be held at the Don Haskins Center to better accommodate the growing population of WTC graduates, their families and friends, with the first ceremony tentatively scheduled in May. View photos of the fall graduation by checking out links to the WTC photo galleries at