‘Prepared for the workforce’: Record number of students graduate from Dixie Technical College

Dixie Technical College graduates participate in commencement exercises Thursday, April 27, 2023, at Burns Arena | Photo courtesy of Dixie Technical College, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — A new generation of individuals crossed the stage ready to enter the Washington County workforce as they graduated with training for their respective fields from Dixie Technical College.

Dixie Technical College graduates participate in commencement exercises Thursday, April 27, 2023, at Burns Arena | Photo courtesy of Dixie Technical College, St. George News

Individuals graduating from over 20 separate programs participated in the ceremony Thursday afternoon making it Dixie Tech’s largest graduation. Approximately 800 students met the requirements to graduate, according to a news release.

In years past the event was held at the Tuacahn Amphitheater, but due to such large numbers — 340 who chose to walk — the ceremony was hosted at the M. Anthony Burns Arena on the campus of Utah Tech University.

Brandi Honey,  director of Development and Community Engagement at Dixie Tech, said the increased number of students was not the only reason for the location change for the ceremony.

“For a lot of our students, graduation is a life-changing event,” Honey said in the news release. “We don’t want to put a limit on the number of people that come to support such an amazing accomplishment.”

Dixie Technical College graduates line up before commencement exercises Thursday, April 27, 2023, at Burns Arena | Photo courtesy of Dixie Technical College, St. George News

President Jordan Rushton led the event and expressed appreciation for the students, their families, professors, staff and supporters.

He congratulated and recognized that a majority of the students were able to graduate free from student loan debt and with jobs in their respective fields.

The graduates heard from fellow student M’Kayla Foster from the drafting and design program. She spoke of Rushton’s dedication to the college and commitment to the students’ education as well as her own journey, and how being a student at Dixie Tech has impacted her life.

She said her passion for architecture grew as she worked through her program, which provided her with the skills to flourish in the workforce.

Foster said she was able to line up a job at an architecture firm “in large part because of the connections and resources provided by Dixie Tech.”

She added that her experience at the college cultivated an environment for success.

“I envision Dixie Tech, its faculty and most importantly its students benefiting greatly under President Rushton’s guidance and influence,” Foster said.

Foster was followed by State Sen. Don Ipson who commended the immense growth of Dixie Tech, the importance of education and the students’ accomplishments.

“Employers will have their arms open to you,” Ipson said. “They are going to welcome that you’ve come to them well trained and prepared for the workforce to do the jobs you’ve been trained by these great instructors and through this great institution to do.”

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