2024 is turning into a banner year for Frankie Fahringer.
In the spring she graduated from the Ozarks Tech Physical Therapy Assistant Program. That hard work and dedication further paid off in August when she landed her dream job working with pediatric patients experiencing autism and developmental delays.
Fahringer contributes her recent successes in part to her involvement in the college’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. PTK is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievements of students at associate degree-granting colleges. In February, she was named the PTK New Century Workforce Pathway Scholar winner.
New Century Workforce Scholars are selected based on their academic accomplishments, leadership, activities and how they extend their intellectual talents beyond the classroom. Over 2,200 students from more than 1,300 college campuses nationwide are nominated. Only one New Century Workforce Scholar is selected from each state.
“For me, the scholarship really validated my hard work and most of all it allowed me to concentrate on my academics and the goals I was trying to reach,” Fahringer said.
This scholarship is the first of its kind to support students at associate degree-granting institutions on a national scale as they plan to enter the workforce upon completing a degree or certificate. The program is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Foundation and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
Further rounding out her stellar year, this month Fahringer travels to Seattle, Washington where she will officially accept her New Century Workforce Pathway award and represent Ozarks Tech at the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Leadership Congress.
“I couldn’t be where I am without OTC, so I encourage everyone to take advantage of all the college has to offer,” she said. “Join PTK, work hard and really use the resources and opportunities they provide because it will help you get where you want to be.”