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For the first time in over 10 years, Waubonsee Community College has opened a brand-new facility with the unveiling of its 100,000-square-foot Technical Education Center (TEC). More than 750 community members, students, and local leaders gathered on the Sugar Grove Campus last week to celebrate a milestone in technical education across the region.
The TEC, now the largest building on Waubonsee’s Sugar Grove Campus, is equipped with cutting-edge equipment and advanced, industry-standard learning for Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technology, Automotive Service Technology, and Welding Technology.
With this expansion, Waubonsee is better able to meet regional workforce demand in fast-growing fields such as diesel technology, electric vehicles, welding fabrication, and robotic welding. According to a 2024 report by the TechForce Foundation, the U.S. must fill over one million transportation technician jobs in the next five years. Graduates from Waubonsee’s technical education programs will be trained on the latest emerging technology and well-positioned to meet this need.
Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony, attendees toured the TEC, participated in hands-on demonstrations, and joined in on family-friendly celebrations and a Cruise Night. The grand opening also highlighted the long-standing excellence of Waubonsee’s technical education programs. Over the past 30 years, Waubonsee students and alumni have earned more than 80 state and national SkillsUSA medals.
The TEC is a visible demonstration of the college’s strategic plan, RISE 2030, led by Dr. Toya Webb, Chief of Staff and Vice President of Strategy, which is built around four priorities: Redefine our Relationship with the Community, Invest in Academic Innovation, Strengthen the Student Experience, and Enrich the Employee Experience. Learn more about RISE 2030 at waubonsee.edu/RISE.
“Faculty, staff, and alumni have built programs that employers trust and students rely on,” said Associate Professor of Automotive Technology Guy Tiberio, a Waubonsee alumnus and recipient of the 2025 Mitchell 1 Educator of the Year Award. “This building ensures that the tradition of excellence will only grow stronger.”
Explore Waubonsee’s award-winning technical education programs at waubonsee.edu/TEC.
