Father & Daughter: Fellow Students in MLT Program!
Morganton, NC—A wise person once said, “It’s choice, not chance, that determines your destiny.” In the case of two Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) students, both choice and chance have had a great deal to do with their education journeys.
Connelly Springs resident Jeff Fredell is a highly experienced metal fabricator and electronics professional. Throughout the past two decades, Jeff has used these skills in his service in the US Army, the Navy Seabees and the Air Force Reserve. And while he was firmly footed in a career, Jeff felt the urge to make a change. When this career restlessness began in the last few years, he didn’t know where it would lead him, but he knew he wanted to take a few classes at WPCC. In October 2013, this part-time student had a talk with Nancy Shoaf, WPCC Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program coordinator.
“After I spoke with Ms. Shoaf, I knew that I wanted a new career in MLT,” said Fredell. “I began to make a plan to enter the program in Fall 2014 by taking all my base classes like biology and English first.”
After rigorous Spring and Summer semesters this year, Fredell entered the MLT program this Fall. But here’s where the chance comes in: someone very close to him was also feeling the tug of preparing for a new career.
Nearby in Drexel, Tia Mirtsching, a 2002 East Burke High School graduate, had a revelation about WPCC’s MLT program in October 2013 too. Married and the mother of two, Tia had been considering embarking upon a Nursing degree. But with a waiting list of other program applicants ahead of her, she thought over some other program options.
“I work with mentally handicapped individuals, and I love helping them,” Tia explained. “But I also have a fascination with medical testing. The MLT program seemed like the perfect option for me.”
Set to apply to the MLT program, Tia mentioned her decision to her dad in October 2013. When she broke the news to him, he replied, “I’m doing that too!” Her father is Jeff Fredell. While the father-daughter students are close, they had each arrived at the decision—the choice–to apply to WPCC’s MLT program independently of one another! Now they are in class together. Their instructor found that to be an unusual situation.
“Throughout my teaching career, I have had mothers and sons, cousins, and sisters together in a program,” shared Ms. Shoaf. “But I’ve never had a father and daughter in class together! What are the chances?”
While their backgrounds are different, this dad-and-daughter duo have lots of similarities too. Both continue to work full-time while in school, both love math and science, both have the desire to help others and both hope to work in a hospital laboratory after graduation. Both also agree on their experiences in the MLT program at WPCC.
“I am being stretched to think critically in this program,” offered Tia. “While the program is academically challenging, I also appreciate the emphasis on independent thinking.”
“WPCC’s instructors know their subject matter well,” said Fredell. “The priority for accuracy they place on us as students prepares us to be the best professionals we can be.”
Tia and dad Jeff made new career choices by improbable chance, but both have chosen to determine their destinies with MLT degrees from WPCC. They plan to graduate in Spring 2017.
WPCC’s Medical Laboratory Technology program prepares individuals to perform clinical laboratory procedures in chemistry, hematology, microbiology, and immunohematology that may be used in the maintenance of health and diagnosis/treatment of disease. Graduates may be eligible to take the examination given by the Board of Certification of the American Society for Clinical Pathologists. Employment opportunities include laboratories in hospitals, medical offices, industry, and research facilities. To learn more about the MLT program at WPCC, contact Ms. Shoaf at (828) 448-3536 or lshoaf@wpcc.edu.
To apply for curriculum classes, select Apply Now.
Western Piedmont Community College is situated in the picturesque rolling foothills of Morganton, North Carolina and has served the citizens of Burke County since 1964. Each year, more than 10,700 students pursue personal enrichment, new skills for a job or career, high school diplomas, college degrees, and transfer pathways. The application due date for new students for the Spring 2015 semester is Tuesday, Dec. 9. Apply online or visit the Western Piedmont Campus to apply in person.