State Technical College of Missouri will graduate a record-breaking 747 students Saturday.
As the largest commencement celebration in State Tech history, the class of 2022's graduation is split into three ceremonies by program. Ceremonies are scheduled for 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. in the State Tech Activity Center.
Rusty Dutton, a 1997 alumnus of State Tech's heavy equipment operations program, will provide the keynote address at this year's ceremonies. Dutton has been working in the construction industry for nearly 25 years and is now manager of Capital Hauling.
The record number of graduates was expected, said Brandon McElwain, a spokesperson for State Tech, because the number of first-year students has been growing, and the college has had "great retention" from the students' first to second year.
The fastest-growing college in Missouri, State Tech had more than 2,000 students enrolled this past fall.
"It was just a matter of time before we started seeing these numbers skyrocket for graduation as well," McElwain said. "We're super excited and hope the numbers continue to grow."
The heavy equipment operators program has the most graduates this spring with 97, followed by the electrical distribution systems program with 40 graduates and the electrical technology program with 38 graduates.
Programs are divided between the three ceremonies as follows:
• 9 a.m. ceremony: Automotive collision technology; automotive technology; aviation maintenance; electronics engineering technology; general technology-MFA; heavy equipment technology; medium/heavy truck technology; power sports technology; precision machining technology; and welding technology.
• Noon ceremony: Commercial turf and grounds management; civil construction technology; civil engineering technology; drafting and design engineering technology; electrical distribution systems; heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology; industrial electricity; nuclear technology; and utility systems technician.
• 3 p.m. ceremony: Business administration; computer application development; dental assisting technology; heavy equipment operations; medical radiologic technology; networking systems technology; nursing; physical therapist assistant; and practical nursing technology.
The ceremonies will also be livestreamed on State Tech's Facebook, Twitch and YouTube pages.