News

When Kaitlyn Criss walked into her first Tulsa Tech photography class as a high school junior, she didn’t see a future career taking shape. She saw an opportunity to learn something new.

At 30 years old, Blinija Lark knew it was time for a change. A mother of two, she wanted a career that offered stability, growth and a future she could build with her own hands. Welding, once a short chapter in her past, became the path forward and now she is a welder for Valmont Industries, Inc.

Tulsa Tech’s Practical Nursing program is growing, and the impact is easy to see. With expanded cohorts, a new January start date and the creation of a bridge program, the school now welcomes 140 future nurses each year, nearly double the previous number of students they were able to serve. The goal is simple: open more doors for students and help meet the region’s long-standing need for qualified nurses.

Dr. Leslie Clark’s story begins in the late 1980’s at Collinsville High School, where she stood at a turning point that would shape the next three decades of her life. As she weighed her options between her junior and senior year, she realized that athletics would not be her path forward. Instead, she made a choice that would set everything else in motion, she enrolled in Tulsa Tech’s Nursing Options class.

When Max Blackstone moved from Chicago to Tulsa eight years ago, opening his own restaurant wasn’t part of the plan. But two years after enrolling in Tulsa Tech’s Culinary Arts program, the 36-year-old is now the proud owner of Chi Town Eats, a restaurant that brings a taste of Chicago to Oklahoma.

For Leslie and Steve Cummings, Tulsa Tech isn’t just a place of work, it’s woven into every chapter of their lives. From high school sweethearts to longtime employees, their journey reflects the heart of CareerTech education and the impact it can have across generations.

Life is full of opportunities and Tulsa Tech Aviation Maintenance graduate Jesse Moore has made the most of every one of them. From a high school student with a knack for hands-on learning to a skilled professional working for L3 Harris, Moore’s journey is a testament to where ambition and training can take you.

The next time you're assembling a piece of furniture or snapping parts of a toy into place, take a moment to thank a drafter. These behind-the-scenes creators turn flat, technical drawings into vivid blueprints for the real world, showing us not just how things fit together, but what’s possible

When Precious Cannon climbs into the cab of her refrigerated semi-truck, she isn’t just starting another haul, she’s steering into the next chapter of a life defined by determination.

On the outside wall of Tulsa Tech’s Children’s Learning Lab at the Peoria Campus, a vibrant mural now greets students, parents and staff. Bursting with color and symbolism, the mural tells a story much deeper than paint and brick. It’s a tribute, one rooted in memory, resilience and personal passion.