Sweet Son Wi

Tse Son Wi and PTA students in the current PTA clinic.

I got to meet a pretty amazing family recently: Amy, Larry and their little girl Tse Son Wi, or Son Wi. The little girl is only 2 years old, but Son Wi has already triumphed over more challenges than some people face in a lifetime. How did we cross each others' paths? The Physical Therapy Assistant clinic at TCC.

Jeff Hammontree, PTA professor at TCC, has been working with Son Wi and her parents since she was born. He and his PTA students have helped Son Wi learn how to do various things, from swallowing to walking.

Son Wi, and numerous others of various ages and abilities, have received physical therapy while helping PTA students get hands-on learning experience for decades. In fact, the PTA program at TCC celebrates its 30th anniversary this Friday with a sneak peak at the future PTA Clinic facility. The new clinic will enable Jeff and his students to help even more people like Son Wi.

To hear Son Wi's story, click here for a video.

To read Lora's story, another PTA patient, click here for the Tulsa World article.

Pharmacy Tech: Cool career, great pay in 16 weeks

When you are fresh out of high school, it sometimes takes a while to decide "what you want to be when you grow up." Even after I graduated with a bachelor's degree at 23, I wasn't sure. But, I have a new concept. Instead of trying to decide what you want to be someday, how about deciding what you want to be right now? That is, what if you could train one semester and be ready for a career that has the potential to pay between $25,000 and $42,000 per year?

Students can qualify to take the exam to be a nationally certified pharmacy technician after only 16 weeks of training at TCC. And, 99 percent of students who train at TCC pass this exam. Graduates of the program can work at pharmacies and/or hospitals and make a good living. They can also work while furthering their education in pharmacy, nursing or another career. No matter what they decide to do, becoming a nationally certified pharmacy technician will only enhance their resumes. 

And, if you are Native American and a member of a tribe, you have even more options and earning potential.  

Get more details by contacting Teresa Foster, coordinator of TCC's Pharmacy Technician program (918-595-7002).

Check out statistics: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm

Do you 'bleed' blue or white?

No, TCC doesn't have a sports team, but you wouldn't know it from the Grad Blitz tailgate party that employees came to on Saturday afternoon. People whom I've seen sit quietly behind a desk were doing cheers and sporting TCC gear all in an effort to get more current students to file for graduation.

The tailgate party was a kickoff event for the phone calls that TCC employee volunteers will make on Tuesday and Thursday evenings this week to remind current students approaching degree completion that they need to see an academic advisor.

Why? Well, some students do not realize that they need to actually file for graduation. They think that if they finish the recommended courses in their degree plan, an associate degree will arrive in the mailbox. This simply isn't the case. If you are finishing your degree plan this fall, you have to visit an academic advisor no later than Oct. 26 in order to file for graduation. If you plan to finish your degree plan in the spring, you have to visit an academic advisor no later than the last Friday in March.

For complete details, visit tulsacc.edu