Nine South Texas College (STC) students recently partnered with TXU Energy Company to help improve the energy efficiency of a homeowner in need in McAllen, TX.

“The family of Florencia Sepulveda was selected by the RGV Food Bank. We worked with South Texas College instructors to review the home and see where improvements could be made to make life better and bills more manageable for the family,” says Sophia Stoller, TXU Energy representative. “It was clear that the Sepulveda's would benefit greatly from our knowledge and abilities.”

The STC students, who study in the college's electrician's assistant and HVACR programs, were happy and eager to put their skills and knowledge to use for someone less fortunate.

“We've learned a lot in the classroom, but there's nothing like field experience like this where you get to know what to expect physically and understand the expectations of the customer, and get put in different scenarios,” says HVACR student Brian Sweeten. “It feels good to come out and solve their problems.”

The students replaced the coil in the air conditioning unit, installed seven new flushmount lighting fixtures, switch and outlet insulation, fire detectors and a carbon monoxide detector, among other improvements.

“It's been a great learning experience for our students because not everything is in the text books. The students can learn some of the tricks of the trade that I bring to the table from my years as a service technician,” says Guadalupe Hernandez, STC HVACR program chair.

For information about STC's electrician's assistant program, call 956/872-6112. For information about STC's HVACR program, call 956/872-6111.