Shana and Josh Ogle
RCC helped couple move up ladder of success
Shana and Josh Ogle love life these days. “And we owe a lot of that to RCC,” Shana explained. She and husband Josh studied at Rogue Community College before transferring to Southern Oregon University where they both earned bachelor’s degrees.
“I would definitely recommend RCC for people looking to expand and better their lives,” Shana said. Shana went on to graduate in 2006 from Oregon Health & Science University and now serves as a pediatric nurse at Rogue Valley Medical Center, treating children from birth through age 16. It is, she said, “my dream job.”
Josh earned a bachelor’s in business administration with a minor in information systems management. He provides network services for Helpdesk and media departments at the RCC/SOU Higher Education Center in Medford.
Shana, who graduated from RCC in 2004 after earning an Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree, said RCC prepared her well for the rigors of nursing school. “In this job you have to be on your A-game the whole time.” She has since earned national certification as a pediatric and chemotherapy nurse and is nearing certification as a pediatric sexual assault nurse examiner.
“Instructors at RCC really pushed me, and that was good,” she said. “Nursing school was a lot harder than I thought it would be.”
After attending Rogue River High School, Shana prepared at RCC for her GED exams. She began working as a certified nursing assistant, learning on the job, then as a medical assistant. She’s been in the health care profession ever since.
“The more I did in that field, the more I wanted to do. But to move up the ladder, I needed a license,” she said. So again she turned to RCC. As a first generation college student, Shana recalls how she could have been easily overwhelmed. “Fortunately, I started at TRiO to help accomplish my goals.”
TRiO’s Student Support Services helps those who are low-income, first-generation college students, or who have disabilities, and want to transfer to a four-year college or university.
“RCC and TRiO provided support as I learned how to maneuver through college,” Shana said. “Coming from a humble background, it took a while for the classes to assimilate, but the staff were great. It’s such a family-oriented environment; you couldn’t not succeed.”
Without the tutoring she received through TRiO, Shana doubts she could have passed some classes. Visiting other colleges also helped her in gather information about transferring, while director Rene McKenzie and transfer/advising specialist Deb Bennett were especially helpful.
Shana now aspires to become a nurse practitioner.
“I’m a lifelong learner,” she said. “I definitely crave growth and knowledge. I hope our three daughters (ages 9-17) learn from us and get the college bug.”
The couple met in 1998 while Josh was working as a firefighter for the city of Rogue River, and Shana worked at a local grocery store. Josh sent her a dozen white roses, then asked her out. A firefighter and emergency medical technician for eight years, Josh received his training at RCC.
“I enjoyed firefighting, but I decided that for later in life it was better to get a degree and pursue a different career,” he said.
“The best aspect about RCC is that it’s user friendly and not overwhelming for someone starting out. The great thing about my time at RCC was the people and support staff,” he explained.
Working as a student employee in RCC’s Instructional Media Department helped Josh learn new skills and pay for school. Rich Kirk, department head, and John Raedeke, IP video network coordinator, were allies.
“They were really good to me and did a great deal to help me finish school,” Josh said. Now his goal is to earn a Master’s in Business Administration in organizational behavior and be an instructor and administrator at the college level.
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