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.
Chris Capra first heard about Tulsa Tech’s Sound Engineering program through two friends, Josef and Noah. They had taken the class the year before and invited him to perform in their final project. That experience gave Capra a glimpse into the creative possibilities and the tools he’d gain if he enrolled himself.
After completing his first year of teaching at Tulsa Tech, Orlando Ortiz is settling into his role as an Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) instructor, guiding the next generation of aircraft technicians with knowledge forged over decades in the field.
For more than four decades, Grant Griffin has stitched his life’s work into the fabric of technical education. A master upholsterer and dedicated educator, Griffin began teaching in 1979, joining Tulsa Tech officially in 2004. His journey, however, starts long before that—with a life defined by resilience, service and an unshakable passion for helping others build skills and self-sufficiency.
David Crary spent 24 years stringing wire and climbing poles across 48 states—missing only Maine and Washington. Today, he’s back in Oklahoma, not stringing lines, but shaping lives. At Tulsa Tech, Crary now teaches a new generation of aspiring lineworkers in our Electric Utility Lineworker program and is driven by the same grit and values that guided his own career.