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Two-year program leads directly to the workforce Before enrolling in Dakota County Technical College’s Software Development program, Max Mallory built a career through hard work, adaptability, and service. He spent years working a variety of jobs, including seasonal wildland firefighting with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Oregon Department of Forestry. While those experiences taught him leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving, he wanted a career that offered greater long-term stability and growth. Location and...
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DCTC’s 2026 Instructor of the Year Helps Students Turn Passion into Possibility When Photography Instructor Lisa Cline talks with photography students at Dakota County Technical College, one piece of advice comes up again and again: Say yes. It’s a simple phrase, but one that has shaped her career for decades. It helped guide her from a high school student with a passion for photography to a professional photographer, business owner, educator, and now DCTC’s 2026...
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DCTC graduate reminds us that no path to success looks the same. Natalie Velez’s path to graduation was anything but simple, and that is exactly what makes her story worth telling. Before she became a Dakota County Technical College graduate, before she earned a 4.0 GPA, before she was named the 2026 DCTC Alumna of the Year, Natalie was someone who had spent years putting other people first while still carrying her own goals in...
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Special thanks to Jenna Baumgard with the DCTC Foundation for help with this story. Mackenzie Cordle, Electrical Lineworker Class of 2020 Learn more about the Electrical Lineworker program at DCTC Mackenzie is an electrical line apprentice with Colorado Springs Utilities. She is responsible for the installation, upgrade, maintenance, and repair of the electrical power system for Colorado Springs and the surrounding area, ensuring safe and reliable electricity to the homes and business throughout. “As an...
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Special thanks to Jenna Baumgard with the DCTC Foundation for help with this story. Danielle Tinney, Automotive Technology Class of 2019 Learn more about Automotive Technology at DCTC ASE Master certified Technician & ADAS (advanced driver assist systems) Specialist with Osceola Auto Body. Danielle performs all safety system calibrations required after a collision, including cameras, radars, and sensors. She specializes in electrical and diagnostics to ensure a vehicle is restored to pre-accident conditions. She also...
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May 6, 2026 is National Skilled Trades Day. To celebrate, we are highlighting three women who have graduated from DCTC technical programs, including a welder, a lineworker, and an auto technician. Special thanks to Jenna Baumgard with the DCTC Foundation for help with this story. Meleeya Bellfield, Welding Technology Class of 2025 Learn more about Welding Technology at DCTC Meleeya works at Miratech as a level one welder. She says the workplace feels less like...
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Two Rivers student heading to bright future at St. Thomas Alessandra Valadez-Ochoa, 18, a senior at Two Rivers High School in Mendota Heights and three-year participant in DCTC’s Upward Bound program, is heading to the University of St. Thomas after being awarded the competitive Dease Scholarship. “I was genuinely so frazzled when I received the news, but I was so insanely proud of myself and my family. Because without them and our hard work, I...
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Exercise Science major honored to be recognized Gabriel Bermudez Ferreira, an Exercise Science Transfer Pathway AS major at Dakota County Technical College, has been named a 2026 Dave Schroeder Outstanding Student. The award, created to honor DCTC’s first president, recognizes students who stand out in college involvement and participation, academic performance, service to community, and other considerations, including perseverance in the face of adversity or unique challenges. “I feel extremely accomplished and honored,” Ferreira said. ...
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The following story was originally published on DCTC News September 5, 2006 After nearly 30 years, Louise Knippel returned an item of college memorabilia that was supposed to have been turned in when she graduated in 1978. An 86-year-old former student and alumna of Dakota County Area Vocational-Technical Institute (DCAVTI), Louise recently mailed a note to what had evolved into Dakota County Technical College (DCTC). She was sending back her student ID card nearly three...
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Early Childhood & Youth Development major graduating this spring Stasia McKinney, 24, an Early Childhood & Youth Development (ECYD) major at Dakota County Technical College, has been honored with the 2026 Dave Schroeder Outstanding Student Award. Stasia is graduating this May with an ECYD A.A.S. degree. She maintains a 4.0 GPA and excels as a student leader on campus. “I am extremely grateful to have received this award,” she said, “and I am proud that...