New Century Workforce Pathway Scholar
New Century Scholar and scholarship recipient Shaelyn “Shae” Gebre, traveled to New York City for a recognition banquet sponsored by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT), the Coca-Cola Foundation, and Phi Theta Kappa. She was among 48 award recipients for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Gebre’s academic performance and scholarship profile led her to a premiere recognition as a top career and technical education student in the state of North Dakota. This is a financial award that Dakota College students have successfully achieved two years in a row. In attendance with Gebre were the Dean/CEO of Dakota College at Bottineau Dr. Carmen Simone, PTK Chapter Advisor Dr. Zahra M. Moss, and Photography Program Advisor Leslie Ostreim.
The ACCT awards banquet included keynote speakers from across the United States, all of whom acknowledged the importance of community college education to positive social and political change in the nation. Focusing on the development of unique student skills and broadening technical education, Phi Theta Kappa’s New Century Scholars program prioritizes the efforts of students who plan to transition from community colleges directly into the workforce. Meeting the work needs of local communities, these scholars are the best of the best in the fields of engineering, nursing, information technology, and like Shae Gebre in photography.
The 2022 Congress wrapped up with an inspirational keynote from Oakland Community College (OCC), Michigan Alumna Tala Alahmar. A refugee of the 2009 Syrian civil war, Alhamar encouraged attendees to continue to strive for excellence while maintaining a firm grasp on the needs of the local community. She credited everyone at OCC as part of her success, “self-doubt is real, and students are vulnerable,” but knowing that she had the support of faculty and staff from financial aid departments to library staff she knew that she could count on everyone collaboratively promote her success. At Dakota College at Bottineau, we strive to promote this same sense of campus community that Tala credited with her success.
Gebre similarly noted that her experience at DCB prepared her for real-world application of trade and professional skills for success in the workforce. “Shae persistently worked towards fulfilling a desire to work as a professional photographer. Her commitment towards this goal was evident in her academic success as well as her involvement in shoots at all DCB athletic events as well as those conducted at DCB’s photography studio,” said Dr. Moss. “She is well deserving of this award, and for the second year in a row DCB maintains the privilege of its role in developing top scholars in the state.”
