U.S. Navy and Army veteran awarded $1,000 scholarship
Priscilla Crocker, 35, a student in the Patient Care Technician program at Dakota County Technical College, is one of 207 Phi Theta Kappa members named a 2017 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar. Priscilla will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.
The Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship program helps new Phi Theta Kappa members defray educational expenses while enrolled in associate degree programs. Scholars are also encouraged to assume leadership roles by participating in Phi Theta Kappa programs and are selected based on scholastic achievement, community service and leadership potential. Nearly 1,000 applications were received.
Three words that describe you as a college student:
DETERMINED. CARING. INCLUSIVE.
Originally from Falmouth, Massachusetts, Priscilla graduated from Falmouth High School in 2000. She joined the Massachusetts Army National Guard in 2007. She served as a specialist E-4 and was stationed at Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod. She was also deployed for a year in Kuwait during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Her military occupational specialty (MOS) was supply.
After completing her enlistment in the Army National Guard in 2012, Priscilla joined the U.S. Navy Reserve and continued her work as a supply professional. She serves as a petty officer third class in the inactive reserve, drilling one weekend a month and 20 days a year at Fort Snelling in St. Paul.
“I met several people in the U.S. Navy while I was serving in the Army National Guard,” Priscilla said. “I found that I really liked the idea of joining the Navy after my time was up. I originally joined the Army after breaking up with my boyfriend of five years. What am I going to do now? I thought. Then I realized I had no restrictions on what I could do with my life. Joining the military was something I did for me.”
Priscilla Crocker gallery
More about Priscilla…
Priscilla is earning her Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in the Patient Care Technician program and is on schedule to graduate in spring 2018. Along the way, she will earn five significant certifications, including:
- Registered Nursing Assistant (NA-R)
- Training Medication Aide (TMA)
- Certified EKG Technician (CET)
- Phlebotomy Certification (optional)
- Certified Patient Care Technician (CPCT)
“I had considered becoming a medic when I was in the Army,” Priscilla said. “I completed a Combat Life Saver Training course and really enjoyed it. I decided to look into a health care career once I was back in civilian life.”
After she graduates from the PCT program next spring, Priscilla is going to take the summer off and then enroll in the Medical Assistant program in fall 2018. She chose both programs because of the flexibility she will have when the time comes to join the workforce.
“I’ll have the freedom to choose where I want to work—a clinic or hospital or some other health care setting,” Priscilla said.
When she’s not going to school, working for DCTC Academic Affairs or participating in student organizations, including Veterans Club, Priscilla enjoys watching movies and TV. Her favorite shows are The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones; her favorite movie is Wonder Woman. She also enjoys walking her dog, Cody, a 7-year-old, tan-and-white Shih Tzu, at Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan, Minnesota. She also has a cat, a 15-year-old European shorthair named Cuddles.
Priscilla’s dad, Rusty Crocker, works for the city of Falmouth; her mom, Louise, passed away some years ago. Her boyfriend, Andrew Teed, is a U.S. Navy veteran and military police officer Priscilla met in Kuwait.
Priscilla Crocker gallery
Priscilla Crocker Q & A
Priscilla Crocker
What has been your toughest challenge in life?
Going through the death of my mom, Louise. She had cancer and died suddenly from complications related to her chemo and radiation treatments.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
Getting this far in college and knowing I’ll soon be trained and out there working in my chosen field.
What person has influenced you the most in life?
My mom, Louise.
More about the scholarship…
The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation provides $200,000 in funding for the scholarships, with $25,000 set aside for members who are veterans or active members of the U.S. military. The remaining amount is supported by donations to the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation and provides Leaders of Promise Global Scholarships, earmarked for international students.
“The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” said J. Mark Davis, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa, make it possible for more deserving students to achieve their educational goals, and support tomorrow’s leaders of the global community.”
Phi Theta Kappa at DCTC
Phi Theta Kappa is recognized as the official honor society for community colleges by the American Association of Community Colleges. PTK provides many leadership and civic engagement opportunities for students. To be eligible for membership, you must have completed a minimum of 12 hours of coursework at DCTC with a cumulative GPA of 3.5. Invitations to join the society are mailed to eligible students at the end of each term.
Visit Phi Theta Kappa at DCTC to learn more.
The funds provided by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation not only aid college completion, but also give students the opportunity to engage in Society programs and develop leadership skills to become future leaders in their communities.
“Research shows that Phi Theta Kappa members are four times more likely to complete a college degree than their peers,” said Dr. Monica Marlowe, executive director of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation. “The Leaders of Promise Scholarships recognize students for what they have achieved already and assure that financial need isn’t an obstacle to achieving their academic goals.”
Priscilla Crocker was surprised and honored to receive the $1,000 scholarship. “Paying for college can be daunting,” she said. “I am honestly humbled and thankful to the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. When I was growing up, I used to drive by a Coca-Cola bottling plant on my way to Hyannis.”
Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of community college students and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. Phi Theta Kappa is made up of more than 3 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in nine nations. Visit Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society to learn more.
Priscilla Crocker | 21 Answers
Favorite season: Summer- Favorite natural feature (e.g., waterfalls, oceans, mountains, etc.): Ocean
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Football
- Your national bird if you could have one: Golden eagle
- Place you would most like to visit: The Azores
- Favorite holiday: Halloween
- Your national mammal if you could have one: Gryphon
- Favorite actor or actress: Too many to name
Favorite band or performing artist: I listen to all types of music- Your personal motto if you had to have one: “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken.”
- Coolest thing in the world: Technology
- Scariest thing in the world: Politics
- Favorite all-time TV show: Game of Thrones
- Favorite all-time movie: The Nightmare Before Christmas
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: To always better myself
- Most precious material possession: Anything that was my mother’s
First thing you would buy if you won the $1.5 billion Powerball: I would buy a house- Dream occupation: U. S. Supreme Court justice
- Person you would most like to meet: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: Drawing
- Humankind’s greatest challenge: World peace
To learn more about Phi Theta Kappa at DCTC, contact:
Scott Gunderson
Business Management Faculty
Phi Theta Kappa Faculty Advisor
651-423-8295
To learn more about the Patient Care Technician program at DCTC, contact:
Jim Ingham
Patient Care Technician Faculty
Kathleen Tettam
Patient Care Technician Faculty
