August 21, 2013 - CBS Los Angeles Spotlights UTI-Rancho Cucamonga’s Special Tribute to Graduating Veterans

Recently, the Universal Technical Institute in Rancho Cucamonga honored 20 of its own “UTI Heroes” for a day that has been years in the making — graduation day.

From serving overseas, to learning the ins-and-outs of automotive and diesel technology, to graduation, CBS Los Angeles visited the UTI Rancho Cucamonga campus to share with viewers one UTI Hero’s journey to success. 

Michael Fisher Jr., a Purple Heart recipient, Marine Corps veteran, and new UTI graduate was spotlighted by CBS reporter Adrianna Weingold on the station’s July 5 evening newscasts. Fisher’s graduation from UTI Rancho Cucamonga’s Automotive, Diesel and Industrial Technology Training Program came at a time of personal heartbreak after losing his mother to cancer just a few months before.

“Not everybody can say that their son or daughter graduated,” said Fisher, who served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. “My mother would have been proud.”

CBS captured footage of when Fisher and his fellow veteran graduates were honored on stage with special medals as they joined the more than 170,000 students to graduate from UTI since 1965.

During the broadcast, Campus President Sean Carlson spoke about the vital role UTI Rancho Cucamonga plays in so many of its veteran students’ lives.

“We are so proud to support our military veterans coming back from serving our country, and helping them transition back into civilian life,” Carlson said. “Preparing them for jobs in the industry is fantastic.”

Fisher shared with CBS that his journey to success will continue beyond UTI as he plans to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.

To watch the CBS Los Angeles story online, visit: http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/07/05/armed-with-new-skills-veterans-celebrate-graduation-from-technical-institute/

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