Making your own path: Tulsa Tech programs

By Alivia Williams

Photo of Tulsa Tech culinary students taken by Tulsa Technology Center

Culinary Arts I | Owasso campus

Culinary Arts I is a part-time Tulsa Tech program in which students learn essential culinary skills and how to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment— a work ethic necessary for the restaurant business. Sessions for adults last for 18 months, whereas high school culinary arts is a two-year program. Students are able to choose whether they would like to attend in the mornings (8-11 am) or afternoons (12-3 pm).

Owasso senior Josh Foreman is currently enrolled in Culinary Arts I at the Owasso Tech campus. From eight to eleven each morning, he is educated on food preparation, menu planning and inventory management. 

“The stuff I learn on a daily basis… is very surprising. A lot of people may imagine a bulk of what we do as common recipes like alfredo and pizzas, but they don’t see the industry sides of class. Learning how to cost and create a floor plan for an effective kitchen, cooking techniques such as braising and sautéing, and professionalism standards to interviewing or being interviewed by a chef in the field are all huge talking points even in our second semester,” Foreman expresses.

Tulsa Tech programs can appear vastly different from an outsider's point of view, and only when one becomes hands-on in a program such as this, is it clear to see the true effort put in by tech instructors to teach various career skills.

Foreman says, “Everything she [Chef Dunning] does has a purpose: from day one, she started habits that transferred to the kitchen and, eventually, the professional workforce that we’re being prepared to go into.”

Tulsa Technology programs differ from high school in many ways. Due to the collaboration aspect and hands-on experience, classes are incredibly strong in the community sense. When all students share the same passion for a career, it allows for more discussion and learning in the classroom.

“Everyone in my class is great, and the other classes are all really supportive of each other… Even between other courses, collaboration is encouraged–the photography class offered professional headshots and has been known to photograph the catering projects we’ve done. The Owasso campus really is its own little community in every way,” Foreman states. 

The Culinary Arts program is a great place to start for anyone interested in becoming a chef or for someone wondering if cooking would be the right career for them. 

Early Care and Education | Peoria campus

The Early Care and Education course is for individuals passionate about working with young children through leading creative and educational activities. In this program, students are able to gain direct experience by working at an accredited childcare facility on campus. 

OHS senior Aniah Flores, is currently enrolled in the Early Care and Education program, where they are taught by experienced childcare professionals in this two-year program.

“Within the Early Childhood and Education program, you spend half the time in an actual classroom and the other working with the children. It gives you a chance to actually use the teaching tactics you learn during class,” says Flores. 

Tulsa Tech is also a favorable option for schooling, as it is accessible to people among many income groups. For high school students, Tulsa Tech is free. 

Flores further explains the benefits tech brings to the table, “I love that it’s free. With how expensive things are now, it’s a weight off my shoulders that I can get a higher education without suffering financially. Plus, after graduating from Tulsa Tech, I will be work-ready.”

These programs have a long-lasting impact on aspiring workers by teaching them skills they can apply throughout the rest of their lives and future careers. When it comes to life after high school, Flores strives to work in childcare education. 

“I’ve always known I wanted to be an educator, but after taking the ECE program, I am 100% sure that I want to be an Early Childhood Teacher,” Flores expresses.

Photography | Owasso campus

Photography is a fantastic option for those interested in learning how to take captivating images and convey a message or feeling through their photos. In this two-year program, photography students learn to use high-quality equipment and state-of-the-art software. 

Photography II student senior Emma Resendiz is in the process of building her portfolio and running her own photography account, snapping pictures on multiple occasions. Not only has Tech provided her with the skills, but in a way, they have also kick-started a small business for Resendiz.

“As a photographer, we do a lot of field trips, taking photos around campus, events like headshots or senior photos, and we have a very interactive class within the classroom as well. We all talk to each other and give constructive criticism. I love the program, and [although it may] seem nerve-racking at first to do presentations, you get so close with your classmates you couldn’t care less to stand and talk,” Resendiz expresses. 

Tulsa Tech, like other technical schools, is unique in the fact that it provides real-time, hands-on experience that benefits its students. This type of learning is essential in growing and flourishing in one’s future career.

Upon being asked about her favorite benefit of attending Tech, Resendiz replies, “Doing what I love for three hours every day with equipment that I’d never get to use elsewhere.”

A crucial part of the learning process includes the instructor! The instructors at Tulsa Tech are professionally trained in their specified fields and always willing to help. Tulsa Tech makes student resources a priority, and instructors are there every step of the way. 

“[I] love Mrs. Reed! She is very helpful and gives amazing feedback to make us stronger photographers. She makes the class fun while being educational,” Resendiz expresses. 

The Photography program at Tulsa Tech allows students to be creative and work with all elements of taking a “great” picture— lighting, angles, coloration and editing. Any aspiring photographers should not pass up this opportunity at Tulsa Tech!

Dental Assisting | Lemley-Memorial Campus Health Sciences Center

Photo of HS Dental Assisting Students provided by Tulsa Tech

Located inside the health-sciences center, Dental Assisting consists of both classroom and lab instruction. The goal of this program is to teach students to create models, take X-rays, maintain a sterile environment and exercise patient education. Only a one-year program, students are able to get out and work in the field directly after graduation. This program includes clinical internships, wherein students intern at a real office as a dental assistant and gain real-world experience during their spring semester. 

OHS senior Abby Horn is currently enrolled in the HS dental assisting program at Tulsa Tech. Being that Tech is interactive and so involved, it can be a bit nerve-wracking for introverted people. While these programs specify in teaching the material of one’s particular career field, students learn that over time, Tech builds upon social skills and promotes growth in students’ confidence. 

“I have always been the quiet type, which made attending tech scary at first because it is huge, and you are bound to meet new people from all different towns…being in tech brought me out of my shell entirely and taught me that, in a career, you must speak up and not be afraid of meeting new people,” Horn says. 

Once past that initial barrier, students can learn effectively and collaborate with peers, becoming successful in their endeavors due to more resources at their disposal.

“This program is extremely interactive. From working one-on-one with fellow classmates in the dental lab to group activities and celebrations in the classroom— this program gives us students incredible exposure to working in patients' oral cavities as well as building relationships with those we work with,” says Horn. 

Building relationships begins with the classroom environment and help from the instructor. By planning team-building activities and creating a welcoming space, students are likely to thrive. 

“I would describe my instructor as a very bubbly, kind, down-to-earth kind of person. Ms. Rojas has impacted my learning tremendously. She has effectively taught us what we need to know to be prepared for the adventures we are all about to go on!

Tulsa Tech has a wide range of programs— something for any type of student. Not only is Tech interactive and educational, you build connections with others and graduate with valuable knowledge and skills for free as a high school student.