Lindsey Palesano is not the typical student enrolled at Canadian Valley Technology Center. High school is 20 years in the rear view for her.
Still, dozens of adult students complete career programs each year and re-enter the workforce. Palesano, 39, of Chickasha, hopes to soon follow in their footsteps.
She admits to struggling with the choice to quit her job so she could pursue a dream of becoming a nurse.
“I knew I was starting over,” she said. “I was terrified. I remember asking myself, ‘OK, am I too old for this?’”
Then she looked across the living room at her three sons.
“How can I tell them to follow their dreams if I do not do that myself?” she asked.
Palesano left behind a 15-year career in advertising to enroll in CV Tech’s Practical Nursing program. The adults-only curriculum focuses on delivering high-quality patient care through advanced medical procedures. Graduates are prepared to take the exam for becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse, or LPN. (story continues below)
She has just a few weeks of class time remaining before completing coursework.
Palesano said she opted to get involved in leadership development only recently at CV Tech. She and classmates Terrie Clark, also of Chickasha, and Ashley Keeton, of Anadarko, entered a statewide contest in April for creative problem solving as it relates to the healthcare industry.
The team won the state championship and qualified for HOSA-Future Health Professionals nationals in Dallas. Each team member had to take a written critical thinking test. Teams who scored well enough advanced to the next round, a problem-solving speech session for handling nurse burnout and overcoming the nursing shortage.
“I gave an eight-minute speech in front of a panel of judges,” she said. “Then I put it in God’s hands.”
The team was called to the stage at the awards ceremony and was awarded a national silver medal. Only a team from Texas Tech University placed higher.
“It was very humbling,” she said. “Our team is older. We came to school later in life. It was just shocking to do this well competing with students half our age.”
Palesano plans to complete her state board exam and then work as an LPN while pursuing a registered nurse associate degree at Oklahoma City Community College.
Then, she wants to work in a hospital, possibly in labor and delivery.
“I cannot begin to describe how phenomenal an experience Canadian Valley is,” she said. “I cannot rave enough about the culture here as far as teaching and programs and instructors. They are completely invested and our biggest cheerleaders.”
CV Tech students are encouraged to become active participants. Co-curricular student organizations afford students opportunities for personal growth and development in the areas of public speaking, planning and organizing.
Members also work on various community projects and enjoy competitive events at the regional, state and national levels. More than 95,000 Oklahoma students are members of student organizations statewide.
CV TECH NATIONAL CONTEST PLACERS
Business Professionals of America (BPA)
Chickasha Campus
3. Trinty Badillo, Payton Morgan & Mia Pecina Post-Secondary, Small Business Management Team, 3rd
Cowan-Yukon Campus
5. Luis Martinez, Basic Office Systems & Procedures, Post-Secondary
El Reno Campus
3. Austin Bohn, Fundamentals of Web Design, Post-Secondary
3. Caleb Babione, Linux Operating System Fundamentals, Post-Secondary
3. Austin Bohn & Caleb Babione Website Design Team, Post-Secondary,
9. Molulu Ade-Apata, Fundamentals of Web Design, High School
HOSA Future Health Professionals
Chickasha Campus
2. Creative Problem Solving Team: Lindsey Palesano, Terrie Clark and Ashley Keeton, Post-Secondary
Top 10 Placer: Hannah Turner, Nutrition, Post-Secondary
Top 10 Placer: Kylie Cildress, Medical Law & Ethics, Post-Secondary
Cowan-Yukon Campus
Top 10 Placer: LeAnn May, Epidemiology, Post-Secondary
SkillsUSA
Chickasha Campus
3. Trenten Rippy, Prepared Speech, High School
El Reno Campus
1. Grace Starks, Pin Design, Secondary
1. Opening and Closing Ceremonies Team, Post-Secondary: Jeffrey Casto, Elijah Early, Nicholas Cockrum, Luis Avila, Jeremiah Velasquez, Tate Nease, Hayden Herrera
1. Chapter Business Procedures Team, Post-Secondary: James Watson, Matthew Rivera, Connor Todd, Cynthia Chavez Chavez, Zane Chandler, Abril Martinez
2. Cooper Heffley, CNC 2-Axis Turning Programmer, High School
3. Lindsay Loeffelholz, T-Shirt Design, Post-Secondary
3. Chapter Business Procedures Team, High School: Jett Lacey, Tori Vascellaro, Haylee Smith, Katelynn Auringer, Riley Clayton, Peter Easter
