Fall Graduation Highlights the Power of Technical Education

As Fall Graduation approaches, we celebrate not only the achievements of our students but also the undeniable impact of technical education on their futures—and our community. Most of our graduates will walk across the stage debt-free, ready to enter high-demand careers, proving that technical education is a smart, life-changing choice.

As Electric Program instructor Steve Bozeman often says, “Why go to a four-year college and leave owing money when you can come to Lively and leave making money?” This statement rings true for so many of our students and reflects Lively Technical College’s mission to provide accessible, affordable, and impactful education.

The statistics speak for themselves. In Florida, the average college graduation rate is 61.7%, while technical colleges boast a rate of 72.6%. Even more impressively, the rate for women in technical education climbs to an extraordinary 90.1%. Combine this with the significantly lower costs of technical education—averaging one-third of traditional college tuition—and it’s clear why more students are choosing technical schools like Lively.

This year, our graduates will also hear an inspiring message from our commencement speaker, COL (Ret) Carlen J. Chestang, Jr. A decorated U.S. Army veteran and workforce leader, COL (Ret) Chestang embodies the values of dedication, leadership, and lifelong learning that we aim to instill in every student.

With technical education, the benefits go beyond the classroom. Lower costs, higher graduation rates, and immediate career opportunities mean our students are graduating prepared for success—without the weight of student debt.

Congratulations to all of our Fall graduates for choosing the path of Higher Learning, Higher Earning! Join us for our Fall Graduation Ceremony on Thursday, December 19th, at Lawton Chiles High School, and hear COL (Ret) Carlen J. Chestang, Jr. inspire the Class of Fall 2024!