TSTC Automation and Controls graduate looks forward to a wide-open future

(MARSHALL, Texas) - Tanner Elliott was forced to quit playing college football after injuring his back. Uncertain about his future path, he was introduced to the world of automation.

"Honestly, I didn't have a plan; I was playing football and that was it," Elliott said. "Knowing I'll always be able to find a job (in automation) and enjoy what I do, not doing the same thing over and over every day, that drove me to push toward Texas State Technical College."

Elliott enrolled in TSTC's Automation and Controls Technology program, which is exclusive to the Marshall campus. Although attending classes during the pandemic was a challenge, Elliott said the hands-on lessons matched his learning style.

"Being able to actually go to class and physically mess with equipment and do all the wiring hands-on, that's another good thing about TSTC," Elliott said. "It's not just sitting there reading books and reports. You actually get to do hands-on work and learn about every little device and program that you can in class."

Elliott graduated with his Associate of Applied Science degree in 2021. He recalled potential employers expressing admiration for his alma mater during his job hunting.

"Every job that I applied for, they loved the fact that I went to TSTC," Elliott said. "I had the option to go away and work from anywhere I wanted to or where I could stay close to home, which is nice because everybody needs automation."

Elliott chose to stay local to be near his family. He is currently an instrumentation and electrical systems engineer for Phillips 66, servicing the company's Carthage plant and several East Texas gas stations.

"There's a lot of different things that I get to work on now, and that is from that degree that I wouldn't be able to do without," he said.

According to onetonline.org, automation technicians earn a median salary of $59,940 in Texas, where the number of these jobs was projected to grow 12% between 2020 and 2030.

Registration for TSTC's spring semester is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.