MNTC HIRE Graduates And Business Partners Honored

The HIRE Program at Moore Norman Technology Center held a banquet this winter called "Celebration of Success." HIRE Coordinator Becky Boyd said the purpose of the event was to recognize 15 years of dedicated service on behalf of MNTC, and the solid partnerships that have been created and long-lasting within the community and Metro.

There were many alumni on-hand during the event, along with HIRE business partners. Director of the Oklahoma State Department of Human Services, Howard Hendrick, served as keynote speaker for the event. MNTC Superintendent John Hunter and MNTC Superintendent Emeritus Frank S. Coulter also addressed the audience with words of encouragement and continued success. Hunter said, “Personal success is a two-way street. It takes our staff to give direction, but it also takes (HIRE) clients who want to better themselves.”

The State Department of Environmental Quality was recognized as the 2007 Employer of the Year for the HIRE Program. Representatives Karla Crawford and Bridgett Griffin were on-hand to accept the award on behalf of their organization. The 2007 Volunteer Site of the Year for HIRE is the Feed the Children organization, with representatives Lynda Merchant and Chelsi Pittman available to accept the award. Additionally, five alumni of the program were honored with Scrapper Awards for their success in overcoming obstacles and achieving career and life success.

The Scrapper Award winners for 2007 are:
Kendra Morgan, Graphic Design graduate, works at Top of the World in Norman; Alisha Barham, Business Technology & Software Applications graduate, works at the Department of Environmental Quality in Oklahoma City; Felecia Agnew, Business & Computer Technology graduate, works for Meter Check in Oklahoma City; Thomas Sabatino, LPN graduate, works at Hometown Home Health in Oklahoma City, and Rashel Roller, LPN graduate, works at The Recovery Center in Oklahoma City.

MNTC’s HIRE Program, which stands for Help in Reaching Employment, partners with the Department of Human Services to help with career training and job placement for TANF recipients. TANF is a government financial assistance program that stands for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. With recent regulations, clients now have a limited amount of time to get educated and to work before their government assistance benefits run out. As one of the first TANF programs in the state, MNTC’s has also remained one of the most successful. “The placement rate from MNTC’s program is high and the quality of the jobs is excellent,” said Diane Scholl, case manager of DHS. “It’s great being partnered with MNTC’s HIRE program.”

“Nine out of 10 people who come through the doors of DHS want to be here, because they don’t always get the same treatment we provide in other places,” said Joshua Johnston, case manager of DHS. Last year in Oklahoma, one out of three children qualified for food stamps. Programs like MNTC’s HIRE prove that the quicker intervention happens, the sooner it is that families are more likely to be successful.

For more information about MNTC’s HIRE Program or about full or part time classes, visit www.mntechnology.com or call 405-364-5763, ext. 7260.

Feed the Children employees Lynda Merchant and Chelsi Pittman accept the 2007 Volunteer Site of the Year Award from MNTC's HIRE Program at the "Celebration of Success" event held at Moore Norman Technology Center's South Penn Campus

Oklahoma State Department of Environmental Quality employees Karla Crawford and Bridgett Griffin accept the 2007 Employer of the Year Award from MNTC's HIRE Program at the "Celebration of Success" event held at Moore Norman Technology Center's South Penn Campus.