Three area residents were recently honored by the Oklahoma Career and Technical Education Equity Council (OkCTEEC).

They were among 15 Oklahomans and three businesses and organizations honored at the 30th annual Making It Work Day at the Capitol on March 6.

Frances Colombin, an OSUIT employee, received the Making It Work Day Spotlight award. Matthew Wood, campus manager of Baptist Village Communities, received the Outstanding Community Partner/ Agency award. Victoria Wilson, a graduate of OSUIT, received the Outstanding Graduate award.

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 at The Credit Union House of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, also recognized nontraditional students.

Colombin is director of the adult basic education program and MPower at OSUIT. She retired from teaching middle school after 30 years and began teaching evening GED courses at OSUIT, said Katie Quillin, MPower coordinator and instructor, who nominated Colombin for the award.

She still teaches GED classes, but also helps students on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families find employment in the community, Quillin said.

“She is an advocate for our TANF students and understands that sometimes she has to be the voice that gets them where they need to be,” she said.

Wood allows Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology’s MPower program to place interns in soft skills and core internships at Baptist Village, an assisted living facility, said Colombin and Quillin, who nominated him for the award.

The students are able to learn hands-on skills in their planned career pathways, and many are able to enter the licensed practical nursing program more prepared, Colombin and Quillin said. Holt communicates with them about the students’ progress and any issues he sees, they said.

Students get to see a professional setting and learn what it is like to work in healthcare, Colombin and Quillin said, and Holt often encourages them to use him as a reference.

Wilson had attended OSUIT before under the Ability to Benefit Act, but did not finish a degree. She was a high school dropout and would have earned her diploma under the act. She returned to OSUIT when her son was a senior in high school and received her diploma after completing 35 credit hours, said Quillin, who nominated Wilson for the award.

Wilson completed an associate in pre-professional studies, graduating in April 2023, while interning with OSUIT’s workforce and economic development division. After her internship, she began working as the grant administrative support specialist for the division, Quillin said.

Wilson graduated on the Dean’s Honor Roll and is now enrolled online through Northeastern State University in Tahlequah to earn a bachelor’s degree in business, Quilling said.

“When Victoria came to the MPower program, she was on a deferred sentence, had no high school diploma and was on a 10-month time crunch to get training and seek employment before her son graduated high school,” she said. “Victoria hit the ground running, often taking more than just 12 credit hours per semester to ensure her 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.

“Making It Work Day is one of my favorite award ceremonies, as it allows for those graduates, community partners and instructors who have excelled to be recognized for their hard work,” said KayTee Niquette, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families coordinator at Oklahoma CareerTech. “It is an event that is traditionally held at Oklahoma’s state Capitol, but regardless of location, our awardees are allowed to shine.

“Listening to the stories of many who accept their awards is nothing but inspirational, and OkCTEEC is very excited to host this event once again, so that special projects programs with both the Oklahoma Department of Career and Education Technology and Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education might be highlighted.”

She serves as an adviser for OkCTEEC, along with Jennifer Bielli of Oklahoma Human Services and Gina McPherson of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

“On behalf of OkCTEEC we are very excited to celebrate another year of Making It Work Day,” said Robin Shambaugh, OkCTEEC president and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College Journey 2 Success Delaware County coordinator. “It is our privilege to honor and recognize our outstanding graduates, instructors and business and industry partners along with our community and agency partners across the state of Oklahoma. We would like to congratulate our students and partners for their determination, hard work and dedication this year.”

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 www. okcteec.com/. For more information about the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, visit www.okcareertech.org.