Tulsa Tech alumni: where are they now?

By Sadie Woollard

Photo of Tulsa Tech’s Owasso Campus taken by Sadie Woollard

Tulsa Tech’s (TTC) mission statement is “Preparing students for the workplace.” Many former students can agree that TTC did just that. Tech offers the best equipment and well-educated teachers for an individual’s specific program, so he or she has everything needed to be successful. These graduates mentioned the time management skills gained while attending Tulsa Tech. They made it known that TTC has higher standards for their students than regular high school students, since they are actively trying to prepare you for the workplace. 

TTC takes dedication, but alongside you, there are like-minded people trying to reach the same goals. Many former students explained that the people they met through their course became lifelong friends or family. Tulsa Tech is a great place to learn to build relationships.

Medical

Former Tech student Marleigh Dugan, studied Health Science Technology and Medical Assisting. Dugan is currently being hired as a medical assistant at a local pediatric clinic after graduating from Owasso High School in 2024. 

Specific skills Dugan gained that benefited her early success were related to job searching, mock interviews and resume building. 

“[Tulsa Tech] teaches you many life skills that may be applied to life in so many different ways,” shared Dugan. “I definitely wouldn't be where I am right now without it,” she added. 

Creative

Another former student Kaden Shepherd also had a positive experience with these learned skills. Shepherd was a Photography student at the Owasso Tulsa Tech campus. She was able to land a job with the city of Tulsa taking photos of construction sites right out of TTC. She is now a freelance photographer. 

“In Tech there are a lot of business opportunities with the live work they offer. The program is hands on learning and experience for whatever course you are in.”, explained Shepherd

Business

Former Tulsa Tech student, Josh Lewis graduated in 1997 and studied marketing. After graduating Tech, he went to Tulsa Community College, Northeastern State University and Oklahoma University. Lewis did not stay confined to marketing. Throughout college, he studied several different things, but the things he learned from Tulsa Tech transferred through all of his career endeavors.

“[Tulsa Tech] was great for college and [to see] how the real world operates,” Lewis mentioned.

Owasso and Tulsa Tech graduate McKenzie Dildy greatly benefited from TTC. He took Business Management and Entrepreneurship as well as Private Pilot Ground School. Dildy continued on to study Entrepreneurship and Management at Oklahoma State University. He is now the owner of Fulfilled Coffee Lab with his wife, Kelsey Dildy who also graduated from TTC. He found that he got to study what he was interested in early on for free while being treated more like an adult. Dildy felt that he was taught to think for himself while at Tulsa Tech.

“I was able to make my own decisions and choices. I did much better in an environment like that,” said Dildy.

TTC offers several different courses. All of which will prepare you for the workplace, teach you to build relationships, give you insight into what you want to do and build your personal discipline. None of these TTC graduates regretted their time there.