Rhiannon Meiti, a graduate of Canadian Valley Technology Center, recently received the Outstanding Non-Traditional Student Award from the Oklahoma Career and Technical Education Equity Council.
Meiti 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.
Meiti graduated from Canadian Valley Technology Center’s automotive collision technology program and earned Automotive Service Excellence certification. She was inducted into the National Technical Honor Society and graduated in the top of her class, said Cecila Harroald, CV Tech PIVOT instructor.
After graduating, Meiti accepted a position as the technical assistant in the auto collision technology program. Her auto collision instructor called her an exemplary student and excellent teaching assistant, Harroald said.
“Rhiannon broke tradition by getting her hands dirty in the male dominated world of auto body repair,” Harroald said. “She’s fixed damaged car body parts, hammered out dents, installed windshields, grinded, sanded, buffed and painted the mended body parts. She not only has those talents to put to good use but now she can put them to good use helping teach other students the ins and outs of auto collision.”
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.
