The Veterans Affairs Health Care System in Oklahoma City recently received the Outstanding Business and Industry Partner award from the Oklahoma Career and Technical Education Equity Council.
The system was one of three Oklahoma businesses and organizations honored, along with 17 individuals, at the 29th annual Making It Work Day at the Capitol on March 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, which was held in the rotunda at the Oklahoma Capitol, also recognized nontraditional students.
The VA Health Care System in Oklahoma City went out of its way to give a second chance to a student who had been involved in the justice system, said Ronda McNatt, director of Career Transitions at Oklahoma City Community College, who nominated the system for the award.
When the student could not find an available internship, VA representatives advocated for the student, asking a committee to adjudicate the student for a long-term internship, McNatt said. The student was able to take on the internship and recently interviewed for a full-time job, she said.
“They saw past the record and saw the student for who they were and their potential,” McNatt said. “The on-the-job training provided has been a morale booster to the student and provided priceless work experience.”
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.
