GREAT article at News 8 in Austin along with video of an interview with our Director for Engineering Technologies along with some students.

UPDATE:  The video doesn’t display correctly in Firefox on my computer.  It works in Internet Explorer.  Take the time to try it.  It really highlights the value of technical training in tough economic times.

Last night was the last of our three commencements for this calendar year. It is always great to see the excitement of the graduates and their families. The pride they feel in the accomplishment bubbles to the top and spills over in smiles, cheers, and jubilation.

After the ceremony, my wife and I went out to a local restaurant. There were a couple of families in the room celebrating with their graduates. The group sitting closest to us got up from the table when their graduate walked in, no longer clad in a black robe but still proudly carrying his gold honor cord. They walked back and stood around an empty table and spent at least ten minutes looking at something I couldn’t see as the grad pointed and motioned toward it.

After I had finished eating, I approached the graduate to shake his hand. He was a Drafting and Design student originally from the Houston area. The object he was showing off was his final project, a beautifully formatted book of architectural drawings. He and his team members were about to present them to a local church. He had every right to be proud.

When I reflect on this encounter, it amazes me again that our students come in without a lot of skill but plenty of self-doubt and leave with the proficiency and the confidence to present their work to customers. I also think about the extraordinary people who continuously take that raw material and nurture those students through the educational process to bring them to that level. Our teachers are truly amazing.

I love what we do!

(To see all of the ‘Joy’ series, click here)