Oklahoma Mentor: MetroTech Foundation Sowing Seeds of Hope 2018

The Sowing Seeds of Success Banquet helps fund Metro Tech Foundation's model for helping its students finish their training and move into the workforce and/or more education. The outstanding students honored for their accomplishments are the stars.

This year's event was even more exciting since the foundation has a new executive director, Ashleigh Gibson. Ashleigh, who actually began the Goodwill GoodGuides Mentoring Program for Goodwill of Central Oklahoma, was subsequently a Mentor of the Year in 2016. She is an enthusiastic, accomplished, smart addition to advocate for and direct the foundation.

Photos of award recipients are below.

Sponsors and Scholarship Recipients

Carlos Castaneda, Dr. James Branscum Excellence in Character Scholarship

Third from right, Carlos Castaneda, honoree, and Derek Lollis

The award looks primarily at the character of the individual applicant. Open to adult or high school students for outstanding character in the classroom, workplace, and community and is the highest award bestowed by the Metro Tech Foundation. Dr. James Branscum

served as Metro Tech’s Superintendent for 13 years.

Isabella Gonzales, Dr. Donna Neal Thomas Scholarship

Isabella Gonzales

Available to adult students or high school seniors at Metro Technology Centers enrolled in health occupations or health science education

Ebony Pettigrew, Meredyth Campbell Memorial Scholarship

Ebony Pettigrew

Available to Metro Technology Center adult or high school students who are completing their program in May of the current year from Graphic Design majors or Video & Web Design majors.

Samantha Bradford, Miranda Shifflett and Andrea Terrill,

Meredyth Campbell Practical Nursing Awards

Cesar Escobar, Ron Huff Master Welder Scholarship

This scholarship is presented to adult or high school students in the Metro Technology Centers welding career major.

Jose Hernandez and Huong Le, Grainger Tool Scholarship

Jose Hernandez and Huong Le

Available for adult and high school students enrolled in the Metro Technology Centers welding, aviation, and construction programs

Miguel Payan, Dr. Dennis L. Portis, III Memorial Scholarship

Miguel Payan and Luz Payan

Available to high school seniors at Metro Technology Centers enrolled in the Pre-Engineering or Biomedical paths of the Metro STEM Academy

Noel Mason, Huong Le and Conner Hilbern

LaNeeta Bradley, Shovandah Toliver and
Raeven Franklin

Left, Alyssa Mendenhall

Stephen Freeman

Site Director Student of the Year Award Winners (High
School): Miguel Payan, Conner Hilbern, Jherra Martin,
Raeven Franklin, Alora Golden and Lizet Vasquez

Sharing Stories

Rocio Alvarado, OSU-OKC, wants to be an interpreter in the healthcare and is pursuing the MRI/modality radiology program. Her education was catastrophically interrupted when her father was diagnosed with cancer and her mother suffered a second stroke. With her parents' not being able to work, finishing school seemed impossible. Her classmates pitched in money and gift cards to assist. Rocio finished school, merited a job and paid insurance.

In 2015, Kedriuna Townsend was severely injured in a car accident when she was pursuing biological sciences at UCO. Almost every bone in her body was broken, and she lost movement in her right arm. MetroTech Foundation gave her a laptop and internet access to help her achieve her goals. [As a beauty pageant competitor, her platform is mentoring through M.O.N.A. L.I.S.A, which encourages young people to be comfortable in their own skin and never pass nor fear judgment given by today's society. Not letting anything stand in her way, Kedriuna was crowned Miss Black UCO for 2018-19.]

Tonisha Lamkin, a senior at ASTEC Charter School, is a third-year MetroTech biomedical student. Tonisha, a MetroTech Student Ambassador because of her speaking skills, also participated in parliamentary team competition because of her leadership skills. Her determinatin of becoming a dermatologist was rocked when her grandmother was diagnosed with cancer late in the disease's progression. MetroTech Foundation has given her a light at the end of the tunnel and the support to push through.

Ashley Gibson, Executive
Director, Metro Tech Foundation

Ashley Curtis Gibson has her own story about how a little help produces rippling life changes. In 1995, John, her father, had retired from the army after 22 years. Although a decorated veteran, he found getting a job hard. A law enforcement department offered him a job, but he had to be CLEET certified. John Curtis drove from Drummond to Oklahoma City four days a week for the training. An anonymous donor donated money to make this training possible. In 1996, John completed the training and walked across the stage in the Metro Tech auditorium. As a police officer, he felt he had helped others. He had became a sheriff's deputy and a licensed minister.

Ashleigh later became the first person in her family to graduate from college. Her young life already has a history of accomplishment and helping others, and she is perfectly suited to lead MetroTech Foundation and affect the lives of MetroTech students.

MetroTech