El Paso Community College (EPCC) has officially updated the branding of its Student Technology Services to Student Talent Services (STS), though the goals remain steadfastly the same: fostering student employment and hands-on training for real-world experience. As recounted by EPCC News, an Open House was held to celebrate the change and to showcase the enduring impact STS has made on students past and present.
In an ambitious attempt to closely mirror the evolving needs of its students, STS has dramatically chosen to broaden its scope, bridging the gap between academic study and the oft-challenging employment landscape. Tonie Badillo, the Dual Credit & Early College High School Dean at EPCC, celebrated the rebranding as reflective of the department's commitment to nurturing diverse skill sets. "Love that it is rebranding from Student Technology Services to Student Talent Services because their talents grow beyond technology," Badillo said in a statement obtained by EPCC News. She joyfully emphasized the program's role in forging career pathways, saying, "For many of them, it's their first job."
Success stories, such as that of David Clark, bolster the narrative that hands-on experience during education is crucial. Clark, who began his journey at STS in 2018, credits the program with providing him with the practical skills that launched his career. "It gives the student marketable hands-on training in their field of study," Clark shared with EPCC News. He detailed how the program helped him to not only gain experience but also to network, leading to job opportunities post-graduation.
With students at the helm of STS, the college continues to encourage empowerment and skill development, offering wages of $10/hour while expecting participants to maintain a 3.0 GPA and to be enrolled in at least six credit hours. The emphasis on student-led management underscores the program's dedication to providing a comprehensive learning ground for career exploration. "I'm applying to be an STS student, and still learning about it," Joshua Contreras, an EPCC Court Reporting student, told EPCC News, expressing excitement about the prospect of gaining authentic industry knowledge.
