Student Experience: Jesús Pereyra

“I was at Mountain View looking at classes and passed by Steve Billingslea’s office — he had a set of floor plans out and my dad has worked in construction a long time, so I know how to read them. At the time, I was studying nursing but I started talking with Mr. Billingslea, who said I was already ahead of things starting the CADD program if I had an interest in architecture and I could read blueprints.

“Now I take CADD classes, and I’m also working towards my bachelor’s degree in architecture at UTA. My experience in community college has been wonderful, and the teachers here really know the program. It’s thanks to them that I’m doing so well at my job and have been able to apply what I’ve learned in mechanical design.

“When you go to school, you have to put in your time and not give up quickly — otherwise, you won’t get anything out of it. Steve Billingslea is a great teacher and the other faculty are as well. CADD is not just about solving problems but understanding them, and I’ve gotten that and more.”

Jesús Pereyra earned a Computer-Aided Design Operator Certificate and is working on a second CADD certificate there while also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in architecture at the University of Texas at Arlington. In his job as an engineer designer, he works with hydraulics and mechanical fittings at Wilson Co., which engineers and builds electro-hydraulic systems, electrical controls, custom manifold assemblies and hydraulic power units for a wide number of clients including Lockheed-Martin. Jesús is bilingual in English and Spanish.

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