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With Eyes on Prize, Two CCA Students Snag PTK Noms

Contributed by: Tracy Williams on 2/18/2008

(Aurora, CO) - Community College of Aurora (CCA) students Kristie Webb and Linh Dang have been nominated for the All-USA Community College Academic Team, which annually recognizes 60 outstanding two-year college students.

The All-USA Academic Team program is sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa, USA TODAY, and the American Association of Community Colleges. All 60 members of the All-USA Academic Team and their colleges receive extensive national recognition through coverage in USA TODAY.

And while each student is different, both have their eyes on big prizes.

Webb, whose goal is to become a nurse practitioner, is working on her Associate's degree in Science at CCA. She then plans to attend Regis University to obtain a B.S. degree and eventually earn a master's degree in nursing.

"I decided I wanted to be a doctor when I was five years old, and I haven't looked back since," Webb said. "My path has not been straight. In fact, it had a lot of curves, but the desire to practice medicine has always been embedded in my soul. I want to be a nurse practitioner, because I know the impact I could have on the lives of my patients."

Webb has worked in the medical field for the last 15 years. She started as a weekend receptionist at a family clinic. She has also been a medical assistant for two family practices, an aphaeresis tech for the Bonfils Blood Center and a charge entry/ payment poster for a medical billing company.

For three years, Webb went to CCA part-time and worked full-time for both the Bonfils Blood Center and HealthONE Clinical Services.

She finally got to the point where she wanted to complete her Associate's degree and all the additional prerequisites for a nursing degree. So, in the fall of 2007, she left her job and went back to school full time.

"It was such a hard decision for me to leave a job that I loved and which made a difference in our community," Webb said. "But I'm really glad I did. I feel like my goals are within reach, and I'm finally making progress."

Webb is also active in the community volunteering for a program called "Wagging Tales" at the Aurora Public Library.

She takes her Great Dane, Mattie, and they sit on a pillow while a child who has difficulty reading reads a story to Mattie. This no-pressure setting helps children develop their reading skills.

Mattie is also a certified therapy dog and accompanies Webb on visits to nursing homes to see the residents and give them quality "doggie" time.

"Mattie makes an excellent therapy dog because she is so big and residents never have a hard time petting her," Webb said.

She also plans to participate in community activities with PTK this spring and plans to volunteer for the 9News Health Fair and the CCA blood drive.

"Caring for others is one of my greatest skills and joys in life," she said. "I can think of no better way to leave my mark on society."

Dang came to the United States to expand her world and broaden her perspective on different cultures and lifestyles.

"I am glad I came to the U.S. to study," said Dang. "I love Colorado and leaving home helped me to become more independent, but I miss my parents, too. Thank goodness for email."

Dang will graduate from CCA this spring with an associate of arts degree.

After summer school, she will transfer to Regis University where she plans to earn a degree in Spanish and Business Administration with an emphasis on marketing, finance and international business.

With an international background and proficiency in both Vietnamese and English, Dang is now learning Spanish.

"That's a good fit for me because I hope to, one day, take advantage of my language skills and travel the world a bit once I get my bachelor's degree. My ultimate goal is to work in international business for an international company," she said.

Dang also stays active as a student representative on CCA's management and marketing committee, as president of CCA's Student Government and Business Clubs, in PTK, and as a volunteer at CCA's Career Center, where she helped design the Fall 2007 career fair.

She has also volunteered as a translator for the deaf community of Hanoi and makes personalized greeting cards. She donates her earnings from those cards to cancer patients at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center.

Her efforts to globalize her world have paid off.

"I'm definitely learning more about the global economy and the world in general since I started at CCA. And it has only made me want to learn more about the international business stage."


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Tracy Williams

Denver , CO

Tracy Williams has posted 321 stories and 0 comments since joining on 11/29/2006. Tracy Williams 's average story rating is 4.8.
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