Kelly Hankal, a Seminole State College employee, recently received the Outstanding Instructor of Non-Traditional Students Award from the Oklahoma Career and Technical Education Equity Council.
Hankal was one of 17 Oklahomans honored, along with three businesses and organizations, at the 28th annual Making It Work Day at the Capitol in a virtual ceremony May 6. Making It Work Day recognizes individuals who are committed to removing barriers to success for single-parent families by providing educational experiences for students beyond the classroom. The ceremony also recognized nontraditional students.
Hankal, director of the medical laboratory technology program and an assistant professor, is a first-generation college student who has become the backbone of the MLT program, said Veronica Taylor, director of employee readiness at Seminole State College, who nominated Hankal for the award.
Hankal has worked with many nontraditional students who are receiving state assistance and understands the pressures nontraditional and first-generation college students face, Taylor said.
“She goes above and beyond to check on students during COVID-19 and to make sure students are safe but continue to learn in the hands-on manner that is needed in this industry,” Taylor said. “Ms. Hankal has been instrumental in ensuring students are hired in an appropriate work setting upon graduation by matching their strengths to the needs of the industry.”
In addition to her position at Seminole State, Hankal also works part-time in the lab at Alliance Health Hospital in Seminole.
OkCTEEC is affiliated with the administrative division of the Oklahoma Association of Career and Technology Education. The council advocates for students pursuing nontraditional careers and for resources for educating single parents.
“OkCTEEC is always privileged to honor those who have chosen a career path that is nontraditional and those individuals or partners who have assisted them in their quest,” said KayTee Niquette, Work Prep and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families coordinator at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. “This year is a transitional year that everyone seems to be working through, so students and others have been doing an exceptional job meeting in person and through a hybrid model.”
She serves as an adviser for OkCTEEC, along with Lisa French of the Department of Human Services and Gina McPherson of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
“All of us continue to navigate through the continuing pandemic, facing new challenges each and every day,” said Kelly Vinson, OkCTEEC president and director of Project Achieve at Northern Oklahoma College. “Our students have shown tremendous strength and determination navigating through the many challenges they face along the way. It is a great honor to recognize these students, who have excelled and are continuing to reach their goals.”
OkCTEEC’s purposes include promoting and supporting career and technology education, increasing its effectiveness, promoting research in the field and in educational equity, developing leadership and advocating for equity and diversity.
For more information about OkCTEEC, visit https://www.cteec.org/okcteec. For more information about the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, visit www.okcareertech.org.
