UNIONTOWN, P.A., JANUARY 29th, 2026 – Laurel Technical Institute held graduation on January 15th, 2026, at the State Theater in Uniontown, PA. Opening comments were given by Nancy Decker, President and CEO of 91福利社, 鈥淭his is a time to celebrate all the hard work you鈥檝e put forth in the recent months of your life,鈥� says Decker, 鈥測ou鈥檝e put in the time, the effort, and the dedication and here you are. Congratulations to each of you, we are all very proud of you.鈥�
Assistant Campus Director, McKenna Gower, recognized the class Valedictorians, Nicholas Loughner, MercMedes Bando, Tina Dean, and Kevin Hendrix. Gower then recognized class salutatorians James Cessna and Alexis Pritts. Next to be recognized were the January 2026 Distinguished Graduates Kevin Hendrix and Lucas Stevens. Hendrix and Stevens were also recognized for membership into the Alpha Beta Kappa Honor Society. Assistant Campus Director, McKenna Gower, then presented the Degree and Diplomas to the graduates. The Career Services department reported that 74% of the January 2026 graduating class have accepted employment offers within their program of study. The following students were awarded Specialized Associate Degrees and Diplomas in the following programs:听
Degree Programs:
Early Childhood Education
Kyndra Rose Tucker
Medical Billing & Coding
Miranda Arnold
Kaleigh Jo Lynn
Electrical Technician听
James Cessna听
Matthew Costello听
Josiah Dauria听
Geno DeChessero听
Jace Deli听
Brody Dix听
Nicholas Loughner听
Mark Martini听
Ramani Pirl听
Brandon Rapchak听
Noah Ritchie听
Jacob Thomas听
Diploma Programs:
Clinical Medical Assistant听
Cassy C Knisell
Kaitlyn Eileen Wright听
Cosmetology听
Meredith Kinneer听
Valerie Means听
Alexis Pritts听
Carleigh Riley听
Esthetics & Nail Technician
Mercedes Bando听
Tia Dean听
Practical Nursing
Noelle Bernier
Andres Cardona
Angel Dennison
Vada Glover
Kevin Hendrix听
Shawna Hileman听
Emily Hutchison
Gabrielle Kobaly
Kaylee McClead
Olivia Sanders
Mackenzie Jordan Sanner
Shalea Smith
Raven Darryle Thornton
Lynda N. Weaver
Welding & Fabrication with Pipeline Technology听
Lucas Stevens听
Front Row, Left to Right: Shawna Hileman, Kevin Hendrix, James Cessna, Mercedes Bando, Tia Dean, Lucas Stevens, Alexis Pritts, Standing-Lynn Weaver
Second Row, Left to Right: Raven Thornton, Valerie Means, Carleigh Riley, Meredith Kinneer, Kaitlyn Wright, Brandon Rapchak, Kaleigh Jo Lynn, Miranda Arnold, Kendra Tucker, Cassy Knisell,听 Angel Dennison听
Third Row, Left to Right: Noelle Bernier, Olivia Sanders, Matthew Costello, Jace Deli, Noah Ritchie, Ramani Pirl, Jacob Thomas, Geno DeChessero.
Founded in 1985 as Laurel Business Institute is a private, post-secondary specialized associate degree-granting, Career and Technical Education (CTE) provider with four locations throughout Western Pennsylvania and North Central West Virginia. Laurel is nationally accredited as 鈥楽chool of Distinction鈥� by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges,听Laurel has over 500 current students and 3,800 alumni across approximately 20 different AST/B Degree and Diploma programs. These programs are focused on high-demand occupational classifications such as skilled trades, health care, information technology, business, cosmetology, and early childhood education.