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Olney Central College student Stephanie Blake is the recipient of a $1,000 Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship from Eastern Illinois University.
“I was very surprised,” Blake said of her selection. “It is a very competitive scholarship and I was very excited to receive it.”
The scholarship is awarded to students transferring from a community college with an associate’s degree and a GPA of 3.75 or higher. Applicants also must demonstrate leadership skills and submit two letters of recommendation. While attending OCC,
Blake has served as both PTK President and Student Senate Vice President. PTK Advisor Amie Mayhall, along with Instructor John Kendall recommended Blake for the award.
“Stephanie has been a joy to work with as our President of Alpha Theta Eta chapter of PTK,” Mayhall said. “She works hard daily, serving our OCC students and community. I am proud of the accomplishments she has made in our organization and for her future.”
Blake, who will graduate in May, plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business at EIU and possibly continue her education with a master’s degree.
Along with her transfer degree, Blake also earned QuickBooks and Bookkeeping certificates at OCC, all while working full-time at Marathon Tire in Olney.
Blake chose to return to school following her sister’s graduation in 2019.
“I originally went to school for law enforcement, but wasn’t working in that field,” she said. “I wanted to do something that went along with the work skills I’m using now.”
Blake said OCC made it easy to complete all of her courses online.
“I am a full-time employee and mom so I needed it to be flexible,” she said. “The online courses were easy to navigate and had relevant content. I was able to work at my own pace and to work ahead. That was especially helpful with the pandemic when I was teaching my daughter and helping her. I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing if I had to be in class.”
Participating in PTK and Student Senate has been a rewarding experience for Blake.
“I really enjoyed being able to still help the community during the pandemic,” she said. “We took on extra community service projects and modified those to meet the needs. I would encourage others to jump out of their comfort zone and join a club or apply for scholarships it is doable and can help you.”
