From Tenaris
For Cristian Sanchez, maintenance supervisor at Tenaris’s Bay City seamless mill, May 11, was a special day as he graduated from the Manufacturing Technology Program at Wharton County Junior College in Matagorda County.
Two years ago, Sanchez set out to pursue his degree in instrumentation and process controls to complement his role at the mill, where he oversees five furnaces across three production lines at the company’s seamless plant.
“It was definitely a big challenge balancing a full load at work, family and studies,” shared Sanchez, who recalled many sleepless nights.
Sanchez likes learning and it’s this drive for growth that led him to pursue the Manufacturing Technology Program at Wharton County Junior College (WCJC), a technical program launched in 2015 with support from Tenaris for the equipment and collaboration on the curriculum.
The partnership has continued since with student scholarships, grants for the purchase and maintenance of equipment, and training by professors for Tenaris employees.
Upon learning of the opportunity for a scholarship, Sanchez, who had already started his associate degree coursework, applied.
“It was a huge financial help and a major reason why I finished.”
Sanchez spent a short time in Pasadena, Texas, before moving to Birmingham, Ala., home until 2018 when he returned to Texas and joined Tenaris.
At the time, Sanchez was a fifth-year student studying music education in Alabama.
It was a key year that would have required a great deal of time observing and student teaching.
With a child on the way, Sanchez said he needed to work.
His brother, Angel Sanchez, working at Tenaris’s Bay City mill since 2017, encouraged him to apply.
Through dedication and hard work, Sanchez quickly moved up from technician to supervisor, a role he’s held since 2021, managing a team of seven.
He credits the program for equipping him with the knowledge to better troubleshoot and lead.
“It helped me better understand the definition of things and the theory behind how things work,” he said.
“I’m the supervisor so I have to be able to guide my teammates.”
Sanchez is thankful for the support and flexibility he received from Tenaris, his supervisor, and WCJC.
“I hope to continue this lifelong career with my Tenaris Bay City family and continue to accomplish more goals,” he wrote to Tenaris management.
Sanchez plans to head back to school to obtain an associate of electrical degree.
He also thanks his mother for her support over the years.
“She always wanted to see me walk,” said Sanchez, which she did, one day before Mother’s Day.
“That’s a major reason why I wanted to go back to school. It was a personal goal but also for her.
“I gave her that gift.”
Since 2015, Tenaris has awarded 35 scholarships which covers tuition for the two-year associate’s coursework.
Applications will be accepted through July 31.
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