Lake Area Technical College Welcomes Growing Student Body

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 30, 2023         

WATERTOWN, SD – Lake Area Technical College continues to welcome more students to its nationally recognized programs. With the start of the spring semester in January, enrollment is up 2.8% over last spring at 2190 students, compared to 2131 at the same time last year.  At this stride, Lake Area Tech is on track to surpass the 2021-22 unduplicated annual enrollment of 2625 students by the end of the summer session.

Since 2007, the college has experienced significant growth, challenging national trends of decreasing enrollments in higher education.  The steady climb is a result of the college delivering a strong return on investment for students and employers.

Lake Area Technical College President Tiffany Sanderson comments, “Students attend Lake Area for a variety of reasons. They learn from professionals who have worked in the industries they’re training for. And our students launch into amazing careers following graduation.”

 With the continued growth of the student body, Lake Area Tech’s current campus expansion will address needs for additional labs and classrooms.  The buildings under construction are scheduled to open in the fall of 2024, including a Diesel Technology addition, the Dana J. Dykhouse Business Center of Learning, and the Advanced Manufacturing Center.   Additionally, Custom Paint and Fabrication and an Aviation Center for the Aviation Maintenance, Professional Fixed-Wing Pilot and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) programs are part of future expansion projects. 

“Our partnerships with employers have been a real catalyst for the success of Lake Area students.” says Sanderson. “Lake Area graduates are ready to work and ready to thrive in communities throughout the region.”

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