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Monica Bell

Friday, May 06, 2022

Monica Bell, a Tulsa Technology Center employee, recently received the Making It Work Day Spotlight Award from the Oklahoma Career and Technical Education Equity Council.

Bell 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.

Bell has served as office support for the Project HIRE program at Tulsa Technology Center’s Peoria Campus for five years, providing administrative and business support to internal and external customers and Project HIRE students, said Jeana Cole, Project HIRE program coordinator, who nominated Bell for the award.

Bell goes beyond what is expected to meet the requirements of the program, trying new processes and streamlining processes as well, Cole said. She created Project HIRE’s News, a newsletter promoting the program’s students and their successes and offering professional tips, free resources and free family events in the Tulsa area. She has also enhanced the filing systems so employees can find documents faster, Cole said.

“Monica has contributed so much to the success of our team and those we serve,” Cole said. “She always has a listening ear and words of wisdom to our students. Because she is close to the age of our average students, she can share encouraging words on a level that they can relate to. She also is a strong advocator for the Project HIRE students, which in turn contributes to their success.”

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.

Last Modified on May 06, 2022
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