Scholarship helps student reach goal

Meagen Fields is a perfect example of someone who was able to overcome short-term obstacles in order to reach her long-term goal, thanks to the help of an OTC Foundation scholarship.

After graduating from Nixa High School in 2007, Meagan’s eyes were on the future. The first-generation college student had received an A+ scholarship and enrolled in OTC’s Physical Therapy Assistant program.

But those plans hit a bump in the road when Meagen became pregnant in the middle of her sophomore year at OTC.

“The idea of transferring was less appealing then,” Meagen admitted. “OTC had an accredited and well-known PTA program. This was awesome news for me because being a PTA was exactly the career I was looking for.”

After winning the OTC Foundation’s Musgrave Foundation student scholarship, Meagen was able to breathe a little easier.

“As a single mom, this scholarship was a great help. It mostly paid for my books each semester. Thanks to the scholarship I was able to have freedom from that burden and any little relief helps,” she said.

She graduated Cum Laude in May 2009 with an Associate of Applied Science degree and again Cum Laude in May 2011 with an Associate of Applied Science – Physical Therapy Assistant.

Meagen is working at the North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Harrison as a physical therapy assistant.

But she still has future education goals to reach.

“I want to find an area to specialize in and gain advanced recognition in that area; I am thinking maybe pediatrics but nothing is definite. I would also like to continue my education by gaining a Bachelor’s degree in health services. Thanks to the start OTC and the Musgrave scholarship gave me, I’m well on my way to reaching those goals,” she said.

 Steve Koehler is coordinator of media relations at Ozarks Technical Community College.