Moore Norman Technology Center

The Norman Kiwanis Club recognized one adult and one high school student today as November Students of the Month during their regular meeting this week. Selected students are enrolled at Moore Norman Technology Center and represent full-time career majors in Technical and Engineering and Business Information Technology.

Parker Lusk is a senior at Westmoore High School and is a second-year student in MNTC's Pre-Engineering class. He is a member of the National Honor and National Technical Honor Societies, is a member of Team 1742, MNTC's First Robotics division, is involved in the WHS Multicultural Club and is a member of STAND, a student group that aides the people of Darfur, Sudan.

Lusk and MNTC Pre-Engineering Instructor Jason Rausch were in Austin, Texas last week to present at the 2nd Annual Project Lead The Way National Symposium on high school engineering programs. They participated in a student showcase of the projects completed over the past two years and Lusk did a digital electronics presentation.

He is ranked first in his class, and actively seeks opportunities to promote and discuss learning opportunities involved through his Pre-Engineering class. Lusk and a few of his classmates located teachers at Earlywine and Winding Creek Elementary Schools in Moore Public Schools, to begin a new Lego League for 4th to 6th graders. He's responsible for advising on the programming part of the project. This year, Lusk is responsible for the programming of the robot Team 1742 will develop through their FIRST Robotics competition starting in January.

"I've known engineering is what I want to do for a career for a long time. I know now what I'm getting into in college, and feel that I'll be step-ahead, just starting out," said Lusk.

Lusk recommends that students who are serious about their education and engineering should get all their credits taken care of, and not to change their school schedules because a class like Pre-Engineering can open their eyes to what's expected, and to opportunities to be leaders.

Adult student Julie Herron is a second-year student in Accounting Services, and will graduate in December. She's an active member of Business Professionals of America, the national student organization for information and technology students and she serves on the social committee for her class. She also performs a work-study program through MNTC's Educational Services department.

Herron has already passed the full-charge bookkeeper, accounts payable and accounts receivable exams, and has 16 Brainbench Professional certifications. She is also on track to complete seven American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers exams. She worked in bookkeeping for some time while living in Missouri and upon moving to Oklahoma, found herself in a position to either seek employment, or attend school.

"During my time working in Missouri, I didn't realize that the programs I was using to get the job done were accounting programs used in this industry, or why things were done a certain way. I worked with a MNTC career advisor and developed a plan for me to finish school. Now I know exactly why we do what we do in accounting," said Herron.

She said she was nervous about getting back into education but after starting her class, noticed that she was one of many adult students who've chosen to get back into class. She also encourages her son who is in junior high, to begin thinking about Moore Norman classes for when he's in high school.

For information about MNTC's full-time career majors or part-time classes visit www.mntechnology.com or call 364-5763, ext. 7260.