Rosebud Benally, a Moore Norman Technology Center graduate, recently received the Outstanding Graduate Award from the Oklahoma Career and Technical Education Equity Council.
Benally was one of 17 Oklahomans honored, along with three businesses and organizations, 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.
Benally entered MNTC’s HIRE program as a single mom with a limited work history and legal issues that had been a barrier to employment, but she was determined to improve her situation, said Matt Fix, MNTC HIRE coordinator, who nominated her for the award.
She didn’t know what career field she wanted, but eventually applied to the accounting program, Fix said. Before entering it, she earned Microsoft Word and Outlook certifications, he said, and once in the program, she earned the Microsoft Excel certificate and the Microsoft Professional’s Certificate.
She was inducted into the National Technical Honor Society and competed in Business Professionals of America state and national contests, winning state and placing in the top five at nationals. She won MNTC’s Director’s Award and was nominated for the Superintendent’s Award and Student of the Year.
Benally graduated with a certificate in accounting and began employment as an office assistant in the accounting department at Fowler Automotive, where she had completed an internship, Fix said.
“While at HIRE, she proved she was determined to change her life and the future of her family for the better,” he said. “She maintained her positivity, looked for solutions and pursued every opportunity. She was consistently upbeat and determined in all that she did.”
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 very excited this year to be able to host the Making It Work Day event once again at the Oklahoma state Capitol” said KayTee Niquette, Work Prep and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families coordinator at the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. “It is the perfect venue to showcase the achievements of our students at both the CareerTech and community college level, as well as those community and business partners that have assisted our students in their educational and employment pursuits. The opportunity for legislators to be able to hear our students’ stories and see the difference our programs make is just priceless.”
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.
“OkCTEEC is delighted to host Making It Work Day for another year. We honor our remarkable awardees at the state Capitol for their tireless efforts, commitment and resilience. Our programs, students, graduates, instructors and business and community partners around Oklahoma strive to create a positive change in the lives of families in the state. We take immense pride in recognizing and celebrating their contributions,” said Kelly Vinson, OkCTEEC president and director of Project Achieve at Northern Oklahoma College.
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.okcteec.com/. For more information about the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, visit www.okcareertech.org.
