News

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.

Dr. Seuss may have coined the phrase, Oh, the Places You’ll Go, but for Tulsa Tech alumnus Dave Banks, it perfectly captures his incredible career path. What began at the Tulsa Public Schools Vocational Technical Center, now known as Tulsa Tech, laid the foundation for a remarkable journey filled with adventure, laughter and the pictures to back it up.

For Lane Veld, fixing things was never just a hobby—it was a calling. If something had an engine, he wanted to take it apart. If it broke, he had to know why. That curiosity, sparked on his family farm, led him to a career in automation.

Legendary NCAA basketball coach John Wooden often reminded his players, "Good things take time." At Tulsa Tech, those good things are not just opportunities—they’re pathways to life-changing growth. For some students, it’s about discovering a passion. For others, it’s finding purpose, unlocking potential, or redefining what they’re capable of.

The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision, those are the words of American author Hellen Keller. Her words resonate now more than ever, especially in a world where screens and notifications often steal our attention.