Salina Area Technical College
Salina Area Technical College celebrated its 2026 commencement ceremony on May 2 at Tony’s Pizza Events Center, honoring the college’s largest graduating class in school history during its milestone 60th anniversary year.
A total of 198 graduates crossed the stage, marking several historic achievements for the institution:
• 30% of graduates (60 students) represented diverse backgrounds — another record for the college
• 87 Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees were awarded — the highest number ever awarded by Salina Tech
• 50 graduates were still in high school, including 9 seniors who earned their AAS degree before high school graduation
The commencement speaker was Larry Hettenbach, a 1974 graduate of Salina Tech’s Machine Tool Technology program. Hettenbach shared reflections from his own career and encouraged graduates to embrace a strong work ethic, remain dependable, and continue building strong futures for themselves and their families.
Graduates represented communities across Kansas and several surrounding states, reflecting Salina Tech’s growing regional impact and continued enrollment growth.
Graduates by hometown, alphabetical order:
ABILENE, KS Sara D. Britt – Dental Assistant Maggie L. Lewis – Practical Nursing Isabel Grace Maestas – Computer Aided Drafting Audrey Michelle Raab – Nursing
ANAHEIM, CA Josseline Nava – Nursing
ARKANSAS CITY, KS Daniela Ibanez-Canizalez – Nursing
ASSARIA, KS Phillip Jackson Calvin – Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technology Hayden Danielle Carbon – Early Childhood Education Morgan Olivia Hawbaker – Fire Science Cash Jakob Kristopher Sharp – Diesel Technology
AVONDALE-HASLET, TX Johnathan M. Santoscoy – Nursing
BENNINGTON, KS Olivia Josephine Hodges – Business Administrative Technology Hunter Sydney Johnson – Welding Technology Cole Augustus Young – Automotive Technology
BROOKVILLE, KS Collin Dent – Welding Technology Kameron Robert Walker – Automotive Technology
CHAPMAN, KS Jacob Earl Boland – Fire Science Kailee Kind – Dental Hygiene Jayden Michel Lee – Welding Technology
CHATSWORTH, CA Lucia Reyes Gurrola – Early Childhood Education
COLLYER, KS Jaden L. Ricker – Fire Science
COLONY, KS Evan Louis Powe – Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technology
CONCORDIA, KS Sage Weaver – Electrical Technology
DOWNS, KS Charlotte Ann Harzman – Pharmacy Technician
ELLIS, KS Myah McCoy – Dental Hygiene
ELLSWORTH, KS William R. Duncan – Automotive Technology Ian Lee Henry Mikulecky – Automotive Technology Justice Victoria Mitchell – Practical Nursing
ENTERPRISE, KS Chelsea Ann Luffman – Practical Nursing
EUDORA, KS Braylen D. Hoobler – Fire Science
FRONTENAC, KS Angela Kay Banta – Nursing
GREAT BEND, KS Ruth Sofia Reyes – Practical Nursing Jordyn Renell Jo Stukey – Applied Technologies
GUNNISON, CO Brody Austin Dooley – Machining and Manufacturing Technology
HANOVER, KS Cadlee Gay Stallbaumer – Dental Hygiene
HAYS, KS Kennedy Goodman – Early Childhood Education Gavin P. Jacobs – Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Lauren V. Klein – Dental Assistant Jebediah Ray Miller – Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technology Lillian Marie Wellbrock – Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technology
HERINGTON, KS Lydia Helen Roe – Nursing
HOPE, KS Tucker Allen Mein – Welding Technology Duncan S. Reiff – Fire Science, Applied Technologies
HUTCHINSON, KS Cristian Marie Marroquin-Cardoso – Nursing
JUNCTION CITY, KS Nathan D. Casto – Machining and Manufacturing Technology Daryn Foster – Fire Science, Applied Technologies Kane Ryan Griffith – Welding Technology Loren Clay Jeardoe – Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technology Gwendolyn Sadie Margist – Dental Hygiene Sebastian A. Marwah – Electrical Technology Ariel Renee Montgomery – Dental Hygiene
LIBERAL, KS Hallie Kalynn West – Dental Assistant
LINCOLN, KS Kaden Lee Budreau – Automotive Technology
LINDSBORG, KS Matthew Brigham Adams – Practical Nursing Deonte L. Crain – Machining and Manufacturing Technology Breckin Paul Rogers – Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technology Logan J. Shelton – Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Benjamin I. Woods – Machining and Manufacturing Technology
LURAY, KS Kolton James Palmer – Diesel Technology
LYONS, KS Layton Mathew Winkelman – Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
MANHATTAN, KS Jaxson R. Portenier – Diesel Technology
MCPHERSON, KS Samuel D. Bacon – Diesel Technology Eidy Aryani Landeros – Construction Technology
Kaleigh Nicole Marbut – Dental Hygiene Cooper E. Sandon – Welding Technology
MINNEAPOLIS, KS Benjamin A. Dawson – Machining and Manufacturing Technology Brayden C. Gorrell – Automotive Technology Alta J. Noon – Welding Technology Kaleb Micah Ocker – Computer Aided Drafting Grant Patrick Rice – Construction Technology Camron Jamaal Jackson - Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technology
NEW CAMBRIA, KS Melisa Arnold – Business Administrative Technology
NEWTON, KS Annel Harper – Dental Assistant
NORTON, KS Brynna Grace Brown – Welding Technology
OBERLIN, KS Jessiah Dean McDougal – Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
OLATHE, KS Haidyn D. Archer – Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
PAXICO, KS Ollievia Ann Lowe – Dental Hygiene
PEABODY, KS Alexis Cheyanne Davis – Dental Hygiene
PLANO, TX Jamie E. Henton – Nursing
RILEY, KS Angela Marie Crawford – Applied Technologies
ROXBURY, KS Takoda W. Hauck – Diesel Technology
SALINA, KS Gloria S. Ababio – Nursing Brooke L. Allen – Nursing Cameron Anaya – Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technology Joshua Hawk Andrewson – Welding Technology Brooke Marie Banks – Dental Assistant Joshua M. Banks – Welding Technology Emily Bergmann – Nursing Jaiden Jae Lynn Brown – Practical Nursing Xannah Valeria Camacho Romero – Nursing Taygen A. Carswell – Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Miguel Angel Castro – Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technology Brody S. Chambers – Business Administrative Technology Elijah J. Crabbs – Machining and Manufacturing Technology Adamaris Diaz – Business Administrative Technology Jalisa M. Diaz – Pharmacy Technician Karen Divas – Practical Nursing Bryce Cecil Doonan – Fire Science David Manuel Duenas Galvan – Welding Technology Angela Rae Eilts – Nursing Marcello Tomas Escalante – Welding Technology Victoria Gonzalez Esparza – Dental Assistant Cesar J. Garcia – Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Elena Alexa Garcia – Early Childhood Education Miya J. Garcia – Fire Science Jaida Marie Graham – Construction Technology Nevaeh Lynann Griffin – Practical Nursing Tabatha Ann Griffith – Nursing MaKenzie Jôlene Hanchett – Business Administrative Technology Krissana L. Hawk – Pharmacy Technician Grant Wendell Herman – Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technology Jamie Melissa Hernandez – Dental Assistant Tristen J. Hitchens – Computer Aided Drafting Karson B. Hobby – Welding Technology Malachi M. Hopkins – Business Administrative Technology Emmonie S. Howell – Dental Hygiene Christopher M. Huiett – Welding Technology Leon Rowe, IV – Diesel Technology Teresa Alondra Jimenez – Nursing Ryder Legend Johnson – Welding Technology
Addison Mae Jones – Early Childhood Education Jett Allen Jones – Computer Aided Drafting Ethan J. Kenyon – Diesel Technology Kacie J. Kinderknecht – Nursing Katelyn J. Komarek – Practical Nursing Payton Leann Lepping – Nursing Doriana Y. Licon Perez – Dental Hygiene Sierra R. Lowe – Practical Nursing Alexandra Martin-Escobedo – Early Childhood Education Angel Gabriel Martinez – Welding Technology Lucia A. Martinez – Welding Technology Mallory Laura May McKenna – Practical Nursing Ellie E. Mencanin – Early Childhood Education Luis Mendez – Electrical Technology Alondra L. Mendiola – Practical Nursing Dorothy Jean Merkle – Practical Nursing Hannah Cathryn Mertz – Nursing Jason William Meyer – Computer Aided Drafting Armando Daniel Mota – Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technology Mariah P. Moye – Practical Nursing Baylee Ella Jolene Pembleton – Nursing Gabrieanna Paige Perez – Practical Nursing Tucker James Peterson – Welding Technology Jenna Marie Prochazka – Practical Nursing Danae J. Renfro – Practical Nursing Anthony V. Rodriguez – Construction Technology Joshua Isai Ruiz Saucedo – Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technology Bayli M. Saldibar-Lorenson – Practical Nursing William Sauber – Electrical Technology Gavin W. Schneider – Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Jace Michael Schowengerdt – Diesel Technology Lauren Ashley Scoville – Practical Nursing Rhegan Elizabeth Sprouse – Business Administrative Technology Tiera Steen – Automotive Technology Mackenzie Sweet – Nursing Taylor R. Tappendick – Welding Technology Christian Michael Tedlock – Police Science Killian J. Vaughan – Welding Technology Brandi L. Vinyard – Nursing Kylie Jordyn VonLintel – Practical Nursing
Tate Caldwell Waser – Computer Aided Drafting, Applied Technologies Graceyn Hope Weaver – Business Administrative Technology Kreden Courage Weaver – Construction Technology Lexus Wilson – Police Science, Applied Technologies Lance Matthew Wood – Automotive Technology
SOLOMON, KS Timothy B. Ade – Electrical Technology Matthias C.J. Baxa – Fire Science Heidi Jo Bouley – Applied Technologies Lance Cooper Carver – Business Administrative Technology Tiana Emerald Nye – Early Childhood Education Britt Allen Sellers – Welding Technology Aiden Richard L. Shepard – Business Administrative Technology Caitlin Spaulding – Welding Technology Stacy Marie Trow – Nursing
TESCOTT, KS Katherine JoAnn Goddard – Nursing Michele Marie Pasley – Practical Nursing
ULYSSES, KS Perla Guadalupe Calamateo-Porras – Nursing
UPPER LAKE, CA Corrin M. Johns – Dental Hygiene
VICTORIA, KS Amber Lynne Teel – Pharmacy Technician Levi F. Wellbrock – Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technology
WAKEFIELD, KS Weston Scott Grant – Diesel Technology
WELLINGTON, KS Jenny Lathen – Nursing
WHEATON, KS Seth Laird Figge – Diesel Technology
WICHITA, KS Cheslee E. Burney – Practical Nursing
WILSON, KS Tristan Keith – Welding Technology