The new campus of Dixie Technical College set atop Tech Ridge. Staff, students, civic leaders and many others celebrated the building’s completion and the school’s getting a permanent campus with a ribbon cutting and tours of the facility, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
ST. GEORGE – It was a red-letter day for Dixie Technical College as staff, students, civic officials and many others from the community celebrated the trade school’s permanent campus Wednesday.
“This is super exciting,” former state Sen. Steve Urquhart said with a wide smile. “I moved to Salt Lake a while back, so I haven’t seen the progress on the building for several months. So driving up the hill and seeing this, I had a smile that was ear-to-ear.”
Prior to his leaving the Utah Senate, Urquhart was, and still is, a major proponent of technical and higher education.
The new campus rests on 30 acres atop Tech Ridge, overlooking the heart of St. George. It consists of two buildings plus the old municipal airport terminal.
The main building, which can be seen from the valley below, stands at three-stories with 160,000 square feet. It houses the school’s culinary, computer and medical training programs. The second building, set behind the first, houses the school’s industrial programs. The old airport terminal has been converted into a training facility for emergency responders.
“Dixie Technical College is such a great opportunity for the future of our citizens, young and all ages to be trained in various technology fields,” St. George Mayor Jon Pike said.
The location in the middle of Tech Ridge is also a great opportunity for St. George, Pike said, in that it is expected to become an anchor of a technology-based business park the city is gradually developing on the site.
Of the 30 acres that make up the school’s campus, part was donated by the city while the rest was bought by the state.
Stephen Wade, a St. George businessman and member of the Utah System of Technical Colleges board of trustees, called Wednesday, when the ribbon-cutting was held at the school, a red-letter day.
Wade, who owns the Stephen Wade Auto Center and dealerships in St. George, said the training Dixie Technical College provides is in high demand, particularly in a city that was recently listed as the fastest-growing metro area in the United States.
“This is just what this community needs,” Wade said. “Our infrastructure is challenged and is in need of trained welders, auto mechanics, (auto) body repairers, IT experts, doctors, nurses, pharmacy techs – the list goes on. These folks are the backbone and the bedrock of this community. As we say in my business: this is where the rubber meets the road.”
Dixie Technical College started in September 2001 under the name Dixie Applied Technology College with 26 adult students in three programs that covered diesel technology, office management and construction. Two other programs in welding and woodworking were also offered and taken by 200 high school students.
Today the trade school sports over 20 programs, with culinary arts and digital media design being among the newer ones offered.
The trade school was originally housed in what had been home to Harmons Grocery on 100 South, which is now home to the Dixie State University Testing Center. Prior to moving into permanent campus on Tech Ridge last fall, the school’s most recent location was at the corner of Dixie Drive and Silicon Way.
“It all started with an idea, an idea that technical education is the backbone of our economy,” acting Dixie Tech president Derek Hadlock said, “an idea that the doers and makers in our community need to be trained in the best facilities possible.”
“We see this building as a beacon on the hill,” Hadlock said, “a physical embodiment of the import and esteem in which education has been held in St. George since the first pioneers entered the valley.”
Both Wade and Hadlock, along with several others present, gave a a hefty amount of credit to former Dixie Tech president Kelle Stephens for being a major force in getting the trade school to the campus it is today.
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The new campus of Dixie Technical College set atop Tech Ridge. Staff, students, civic leaders and many others celebrated the building’s completion and the school’s getting a permanent campus with a ribbon cutting and tours of the facility, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
The new campus of Dixie Technical College set atop Tech Ridge. Staff, students, civic leaders and many others celebrated the building’s completion and the school’s getting a permanent campus with a ribbon cutting and tours of the facility, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
The new campus of Dixie Technical College set atop Tech Ridge. Staff, students, civic leaders and many others celebrated the building’s completion and the school’s getting a permanent campus with a ribbon cutting and tours of the facility, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
The new campus of Dixie Technical College set atop Tech Ridge. Staff, students, civic leaders and many others celebrated the building’s completion and the school’s getting a permanent campus with a ribbon cutting and tours of the facility, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
The new campus of Dixie Technical College set atop Tech Ridge. Staff, students, civic leaders and many others celebrated the building’s completion and the school’s getting a permanent campus with a ribbon cutting and tours of the facility, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Prior to the ribbon-cutting, attendees gathered in the auditorium at Dixie Tech to hear remarks from the school’s acting president and others involved in the building of the new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Staff, students, civic leaders and many others celebrated Dixie Technical College getting a permanent campus with a ribbon cutting and tours of the facility, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Derek Hadlock, acting president of Dixie Technical College, spoke prior to the ribbon cutting and referred to the new campus as a “beacon on a hill,” St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
St. George Mayor Jon Pike speaks prior to the ribbon cutting and remarked how getting the new campus was a joint effort between many different parties, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
While Stephen Wade (left), a member of the board of trustees for the Utah System of Technical Colleges, thanks the many supporters of Dixie Technical College prior to the ribbon cutting, Sen. Don Ipson, R-Utah, (right) stands to mention Wades’ name, as he has also been a supporter and benefactor to Dixie Tech, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Derek Hadlock, acting president of Dixie Technical College, stands with the giant scissors ready to cut the ribbon for the trade school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Derek Hadlock, acting president of Dixie Technical College, stands with the giant scissors ready to cut the ribbon for the trade school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Derek Hadlock, acting president of Dixie Technical College, cuts the ribbon with giant scissors celebrating the trade school’s new campus. Many others involved in the process of getting the new campus were also able to cut the ribbon with regular scissors, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Staff, students, civic leaders and many others celebrated Dixie Technical College getting a permanent campus with a ribbon cutting and tours of the facility. Food served at the event was made by the school’s culinary arts students, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Staff, students, civic leaders and many others celebrated Dixie Technical College getting a permanent campus with a ribbon cutting and tours of the facility, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Among Dixie Tech’s computer-based programs are digital media design, information technology and drafting and design. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Among Dixie Tech’s computer-based programs are digital media design, information technology and drafting and design. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Among Dixie Tech’s computer-based programs are digital media design, information technology and drafting and design. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Among Dixie Tech’s computer-based programs are digital media design, information technology and drafting and design. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Among Dixie Tech’s computer-based programs are digital media design, information technology and drafting and design. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Among it’s medical-based program, Dixie Tech offers a pharmacy technician course. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Among it’s medical-based program, Dixie Tech offers a pharmacy technician course. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Among Dixie Tech medical-based programs are: phlebotomy, pharmacy technician, medication aide, nursing assistant (CNA) and medical assistant. EMT and Advanced EMT training is also offered. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Among Dixie Tech medical-based programs are: phlebotomy, pharmacy technician, medication aide, nursing assistant (CNA) and medical assistant. EMT and Advanced EMT training is also offered. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Among Dixie Tech medical-based programs are: phlebotomy, pharmacy technician, medication aide, nursing assistant (CNA) and medical assistant. EMT and Advanced EMT training is also offered. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Culinary Arts is one of the newest programs are Dixie Tech. Among with learning their way around a kitchen and preparing food, students are able to prepared food for customers at the school’s cafe, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Culinary Arts is one of the newest programs are Dixie Tech. Among with learning their way around a kitchen and preparing food, students are able to prepared food for customers at the school’s cafe, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
Culinary Arts is one of the newest programs are Dixie Tech. Among with learning their way around a kitchen and preparing food, students are able to prepared food for customers at the school’s cafe, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
In additional the 160,000 square-foot building housing culinary arts and medical and computer-based programs, Dixie Tech also boast an industrial arts buildings that houses construction, transportation and machinery-based programs. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
In additional the 160,000 square-foot building housing culinary arts and medical and computer-based programs, Dixie Tech also boast an industrial arts buildings that houses construction, transportation and machinery-based programs. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
In additional the 160,000 square-foot building housing culinary arts and medical and computer-based programs, Dixie Tech also boast an industrial arts buildings that houses construction, transportation and machinery-based programs. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
In additional the 160,000 square-foot building housing culinary arts and medical and computer-based programs, Dixie Tech also boast an industrial arts buildings that houses construction, transportation and machinery-based programs. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
In additional the 160,000 square-foot building housing culinary arts and medical and computer-based programs, Dixie Tech also boast an industrial arts buildings that houses construction, transportation and machinery-based programs. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
In additional the 160,000 square-foot building housing culinary arts and medical and computer-based programs, Dixie Tech also boast an industrial arts buildings that houses construction, transportation and machinery-based programs. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
In additional the 160,000 square-foot building housing culinary arts and medical and computer-based programs, Dixie Tech also boast an industrial arts buildings that houses construction, transportation and machinery-based programs. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
In additional the 160,000 square-foot building housing culinary arts and medical and computer-based programs, Dixie Tech also boast an industrial arts buildings that houses construction, transportation and machinery-based programs. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
In additional the 160,000 square-foot building housing culinary arts and medical and computer-based programs, Dixie Tech also boast an industrial arts buildings that houses construction, transportation and machinery-based programs. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
In additional the 160,000 square-foot building housing culinary arts and medical and computer-based programs, Dixie Tech also boast an industrial arts buildings that houses construction, transportation and machinery-based programs. The public was shown where these rooms are taught at the trade school during tours of the facility following a ribbon cutting for the school’s new campus, St. George, Utah, March 28, 2018 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mori Kessler serves as a Senior Reporter for St. George News, having previously contributed as a writer and Interim Editor in 2011-12, and an assistant editor from 2012 to mid-2014. He began writing news as a freelancer in 2009 for Today in Dixie, and joined the writing staff of St. George News in mid-2010. He enjoys photography and won an award for photojournalism from the Society of Professional Journalists for a 2018 photo of a bee inspector removing ferals bees from a Washington City home. He is also a shameless nerd and has a bad sense of direction.