On April 29, 2025, Davis Technical College (Davis Tech) honored over 1,200 graduates at the standing-room-only Spring Graduation at the Davis Conference Center.
Over 2,200 celebrated this defining moment as graduates end one chapter and begin another. Since Davis Tech teaches hands-on skills, many students have, or will soon acquire, careers within the fields for which they’ve been training. To set this milestone in perspective, keynote speaker Colonel Michelle Artolachipe, Deputy Commander, United States Air Force–Ogden Air Logistics, told students, “The education you have received, and the skills that you have learned are so important—not just for yourselves, not just for your family, but for the future of the United States. The education and skills you have learned are what we need to continue to be prosperous and successful as a country.”
In a similar message, Amanda Campbell Meyer, 2025 Davis Tech Student of the Year in Business and Information Technology, shared, “Davis Tech's motto is ‘We Change Lives,' and I believe we’ve done just that, starting with our own lives. As we step into new jobs, new careers, and new chapters, let’s carry that message with us. Let’s use our skills, stories and voices to keep changing lives in our communities and in the world.”
Being an older, non-traditional student, Meyer knows a thing or two about change. Nine years ago, she was diagnosed with multiple brain tumors shortly after delivering her baby girl. After years of physical and financial hardship, she decided to take a new direction in her career and chose Davis Tech’s Web and Graphic Design program in which she found a new passion. Through transfer credits, Meyer has recently discovered that she only needs one more class for an associate degree at another Utah college. She then plans to continue her education to achieve a bachelor’s degree while simultaneously building her own business.
Additionally, on April 24, Davis Tech held a special graduation celebration for the four-year apprenticeship programs. 62 electricians and 27 plumbers were honored with a ceremony that included hard hats, buckets, and careers. Since these students have been working in the field while attending college, they're already earning strong wages. The program prepares students to take their journeyman’s test, which, when they pass, will take their careers to the next level with a significant increase in pay.
Shawn Swapp, Davis Tech Director of Programs–Construction Professions, adds, “I couldn’t be more proud of what these apprenticeship students have accomplished in the last four years! This is a tough journey–the commitment to their trade will prove invaluable for their futures.”
To see more photos from this incredible evening, CLICK HERE
Photo Credit: Stephen Speckman