Moore Norman Technology Center

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

Moore High School junior Anthony Gonzales is a first-year student in MNTC's Web Design class. He is an active member of the national student organization Business Professionals of America and serves as the class assistant treasurer. He also works on the Web Design Fundraiser Committee.

Gonzales became interested in attending MNTC for his elective hours while in high school, after attending a tour of the campus. He said it felt like the right decision and with his family's encouragement, he enrolled.

"I like being at MNTC because I'm learning what it will take to be a web designer in the real world. I knew I wanted to do this for a career and so I'm happy this class was available to me as a high school student," he said.

Gonzales said he feels the class is giving him a more realistic sense of what's to come in college, as he's in class with adults and has to meet the expectations and deadlines of his instructor. He's also working toward industry certifications that will help become more employable after graduation.

Adult student Serogia Ashby is enrolled in the Building and Grounds Maintenance class as a first-year student. He was recently elected by his class as the Occupational Services Shop Forman and serves as the class representative for SkillsUSA. He hopes to complete the class with an emphasis in landscape equipment maintenance in 2011.

Ashby is a 2009 Westmoore High School graduate and said the opportunity to attend MNTC didn't happen for him until this year. He took advantage of the MNTC CareerTech Scholarship, and can attend class tuition free until he turns 21.

"I was so happy to get in this class. I'm most interested in grounds equipment, maintenance and some custodial work, so this was perfect for me," Ashby said.

He was already familiar with some of the work involved, as he worked his high school summers as a grounds keeper for Freewill Baptist College in Norman. His parents are professors there and encouraged him to attend MNTC's class after seeing his work at the college. After graduation, Ashby is considering truck driving school, and knows he'll have a marketable skill set from the Building and Grounds Maintenance class, no matter what he chooses to do.

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