Pittsburg, PA

Pittsburgh Technical College hosts final commencement ceremony before August shutdown

Published

5 days ago

June 23, 2024

Pittsburgh Technical College hosts final commencement ceremony before August shutdown

OAKDALE, Pa. (KDKA) — The Pittsburgh Technical College celebrated its final commencement ceremony on Saturday. The nearly 80-year-old Oakdale institution announced just weeks ago that it would close for good.

Pittsburgh Technical graduate Ryan Leichty told KDKA-TV that he’s most worried about his friends who haven’t graduated yet and all the instructors who are suddenly out of a job.

Leichty just got a welding degree. He says there are a lot of jobs open for things like welding.

Now, he says, one of the best places locally to learn those skills, and many others, is closing for good.

A college graduation is supposed to be about celebrating, but for the many students who graduated on Saturday from Pittsburgh Technical College, those feelings are complicated.

“I don’t know; it’s kind of bittersweet. It was nice graduating and everything,” Leichty said.

A cloud was hanging over the ceremony.

“I think this commencement is made even more special because it is our last,” president Alicia B. Harvey-Smith said.

The school says they are shutting down due to declining enrollment and financial challenges.

“It is a shame seeing the school was so badly managed,” Leichty said.

Instead of walking across the stage thinking about his accomplishments, Leichty says he was thinking about how poor the ceremony was.

“It felt like a backyard BBQ of a graduation ceremony, in my opinion. Like, it was very pieced together,” Leichty added.

On this hot day, he noted how graduates sat in the sun, while only the stage was covered. He says the loss of the school is a loss for a region rich with an industrial history.

“Instead of going to a four-year college where you’re paying $100,000 in student loans, someone like me, I went, I learned welding for a quarter of the cost, and I got a job right out of school,” Leichty added.

In her remarks, the school’s president told students that as leaders there are many things graduates will face that won’t be pleasant.

“There are many things that will be said about you, and those things will not be true. In closing, today, yes it is bittersweet, but because of you, PTC will live on forever.”

Leichty wants to think about his accomplishments, but it’s tough.

“The bitterness is really a large part of this day. I don’t know. It didn’t have to be this way if they had managed their money better, not lost all their money, and shut the school down.”

The school said they have attempted to raise revenue or merge, but all those attempts failed.

The official last day is set for Aug. 9, 2024.

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Pittsburg, PA

A Pennsylvania family experienced tragedy and hope in the NICU. Now they’re helping thousands of others.

Published

3 hours ago

June 27, 2024

Press Room

A Pennsylvania family experienced tragedy and hope in the NICU. Now they’re helping thousands of others.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A mission to bless families one miracle at a time began 15 years ago when the Smith family from Erie had twins at UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Gianna and her brother Grady came 14 weeks early, weighing only two pounds. Grady lived for 52 hours. After he passed, Gianna’s condition deteriorated and doctors told them to prepare for another funeral. But then, a miracle happened, according to dad Ryan.

“And we said, ‘man, what an awesome way to tell Gianna’s story of making it through the NICU journey, but let’s honor Grady and his life, and let’s take both of these stories and let’s help one baby at a time,’” he said.

Ryan and his wife received support from people in Pittsburgh during their stay in the city. And the family pledged to pay it forward, creating the nonprofit organization Grady’s Decision. They provide emotional, financial and spiritual support for families with babies in the NICU and families who have babies with special medical needs. From transportation to lodging, to meals and other resources, the nonprofit has already served 3,500 families in northwestern Pennsylvania.

“Fifteen years ago right here in Pittsburgh, we started our journey,” said Smith. “So excited that we’re launching that same mission that we do in northwestern Pennsylvania right here in Pittsburgh.”

Mosaic Wealth Consulting just adopted the nonprofit as its charity partner, holding a client appreciation event as a fundraiser on The Gateway Clipper. Niki Mullinix, an advisor with Astyr Wealth, was a NICU mom herself 12 years ago, and felt the love and support from Grady’s Decision. She pledged to one day help to expand its outreach in Pittsburgh.

“And this is our time! So when we decided, as a team, to adopt Grady’s as a charity, it goes a long way in my heart because Grady’s was actually there for me in my time of need,” Mullinix said.

Smith says the name of the organization comes from a place of heartbreak that turned into hope and healing for others.

“We thought it was our decision to let Grady go. Years later we would realize it was always Grady’s decision to go to heaven so so many other people could be loved,” Smith said.

You can learn more about the campaign at gradysdecision.com.

Kym Gable