Snow College president inspires record Davis Tech class

Davis Technical College in Kaysville, Utah, held its semi-annual graduation ceremony on Thursday at Western Sports Park. The event marked the largest graduating class in the institution's history, with 1,223 students receiving their certificates. More than 2,000 family members, friends, faculty, and staff attended the ceremony to mark the milestone.

The college reported that 61 students from the 2025-26 school year transferred to Snow College via the TechConnect program. This initiative allows students to apply technical college credits toward an associate degree. Across the eight Utah technical colleges, 283 students utilized this transfer pathway during the same period.

Stacee McIff, president of Snow College, delivered the keynote address. She urged graduates to adopt a growth mindset and take responsibility for their actions in professional and personal settings. McIff highlighted the new TechConnect pathway, noting that the teams from both institutions worked to simplify the transition from a technical certificate to an associate degree.

Isabelle Salvador, a Culinary Arts graduate, was recognized for her immediate employment at the Davis Tech Café. Salvador credited her instructors and support network for helping her develop her skills in a commercial kitchen environment. She stated that their guidance helped her believe she could build a successful career.

Codi Frederiksen, a faculty member in the Pharmacy Technician program, served as a commencement speaker. Frederiksen described the transformation students undergo during their coursework, moving from uncertainty to confidence and career readiness. He noted that by graduation, students are prepared to make a difference in their fields.

Davis Tech partners with the Utah Department of Corrections to provide career training to incarcerated individuals. Students in this program have access to 11 fields of study, including welding, automotive, and business. Four hundred ninety-four students were enrolled in these programs last year.

The college, established in 1978, serves high school and adult students in Davis and Morgan Counties. It offers certificates in business, information technology, construction, health professions, manufacturing, service professions, and transportation. The partnership with the Department of Corrections has resulted in a recidivism rate of 28% for Davis Tech graduates, compared to a national average of approximately 70%.

The college continues to offer hands-on technical education to meet workforce demands in the region. The recent graduation reflects the growing enrollment in career-focused programs designed to prepare students for immediate employment.