Jennifer Huie
"Smiley." That's TCC alum Jen Huie's nickname at work. And it's spoken like a cheer from colleagues at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest. Huie, an upbeat patient care technician, is battling a rare form of breast cancer, pursuing an Associate Degree in Nursing, loving her family and appreciating recent recognition as an exemplary e-learning student.
The Instructional Technology Council of Washington, D.C., recently bestowed on Huie its first-place ITC Award for Student Excellence in e-Learning. Huie received the award at ITC's national conference held this year in Fort Worth and co-sponsored by Tarrant County College and the Dallas County Community College District.
Nominated by South Campus U.S. History Professor Armando Villareal, Huie turned to e-learning as she began chemotherapy after being diagnosed with stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer near the end of the fall 2009 semester.
"I didn't want to drop (Villareal's) class nor my statistics class," said Huie, whose dream is to become an RN. TCC's e-learning resources helped Huie complete those courses. Soon after, she was accepted into El Centro College's Nursing Program. She plans to graduate with her Associate Degree in Nursing next year and then pursue a baccalaureate degree in Nursing.
While undergoing chemotherapy, Huie completed other online courses, including psychology, microbiology and psychiatry. "E-learning has played a major role in my studies," she said, "because I was able to work, be a mom and wife and still obtain my education."
She's determined to succeed. "I lost my mom to the same horrible disease," she said. "My will to live and be here for my boys (Ryley, age 14; Brett, age 5, and husband Rory) gives me motivation and courage." And to smile always every day at everyone.
--By David House
Editor's note: We celebrate National Distance Learning Week, Nov. 8-12, 2010, by honoring Jennifer Huie along with all of our other distance learning students with special thanks to our distance learning faculty and staff.