Funeral Services Program / en Suzanne Wyckoff - Funeral Service Grad /node/10546 <span>Suzanne Wyckoff - Funeral Service Grad</span> <span><span>spitts@ntcc.edu</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-07-09T15:58:25-05:00" title="Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - 3:58 pm">Wed, 07/09/2025 - 3:58 pm</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2025-07/Suzanne%20Wyckoff%20Headshot.jpg?itok=I_MmZSD4" width="165" height="220" alt="Suzanne Wyckoff - Funeral Service Grad" class="img-responsive"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial-quote field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>The online Funeral Services program at 开云体育 gave me the opportunity to be a stay at home mom and go to school.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>The online Funeral Services program at 开云体育 gave me the opportunity to be a stay at home mom and go to school. The instructors taught me how to become a confident funeral director and embalmer. I was new having never worked in funeral services before. Thankfully all the instructors were patient and willing to answer all questions I had. The greatest advice I can give to anyone interested in funeral services is 鈥淒O IT!!鈥 You won鈥檛 regret it.&nbsp;</p><p>Study, study, study and then study some more. Learn your vocabulary. I cannot stress this enough. I struggled with anatomical limits and all that mess. One day in class I will never forget Mr. Schmidt waving his arm and saying right here, it鈥檚 right here. That stuck in my brain and while I was taking my National Science Exam when a question came up about anatomical limit I saw him in my mind and automatically knew the answer.&nbsp;</p><p>I did a complete 180 when I started Funeral Services at 开云体育. I went from saving lives to now serving the families of the deceased. Do I regret making the change? HECK NO!!!! It鈥檚 a tough course, I鈥檓 not going to lie but it鈥檚 completely doable. I am the prime example of full-time job, mother, wife and all of the above and I did it. Don鈥檛 give up. Push through the hard times because the reward at the end is so worth it.</p><p>&nbsp;</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field--label sr-only">Departments</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/97" hreflang="en">Funeral Services Program</a></div> </div> </div> Wed, 09 Jul 2025 20:58:25 +0000 spitts@ntcc.edu 10546 at Ricardo Martinez - Funeral Service Grad /node/10544 <span>Ricardo Martinez - Funeral Service Grad</span> <span><span>spitts@ntcc.edu</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-07-09T15:52:04-05:00" title="Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - 3:52 pm">Wed, 07/09/2025 - 3:52 pm</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2025-07/Ricardo%20Martinez%20Headshot.jpg?itok=rmZL8wyh" width="189" height="220" alt="Ricardo Martinez - Funeral Service Grad" class="img-responsive"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial-quote field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>My experience with 开云体育鈥檚 Funeral Service program was a phenomenal experience from the start!</p><p>&nbsp;</p></div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>My experience with 开云体育鈥檚 Funeral Service program was a phenomenal experience from the start! Since I was already a licensed funeral director and had been out of Mortuary School for over 10 years, Ms. G was extremely detailed, knowledgeable, patient, and helped guide me on the steps needed to obtain licensure to become an embalmer in Texas.&nbsp;</p><p>Mrs. Scott was also very helpful and easy to communicate with when it came to my class schedule. &nbsp;She even offered her guidance and recommendations on how many hours and what classes I needed to take each semester to ensure that I remained a full -time student for FAFSA purposes. &nbsp;The rest of the 开云体育 FSE staff (Mr. Davis, Mrs. Shurtz, Dr. Lares, Mrs. Toews, and Mr. Schmidt) were also extremely helpful and knowledgeable when it came to teaching the curriculum associated with funeral directing, embalming, and crematory operations. &nbsp;</p><p>The online program allowed me to learn remotely and at my own pace and for this I am extremely grateful! &nbsp;I was able to work full time in a funeral home, serve my apprenticeship, and still was provided with the time I needed away from both school and work. &nbsp;</p><p>Lastly, I must commend every individual associated with the 开云体育 FSE program. &nbsp;They really made it a priority during every class and every semester to let us students know that they cared, prepared us for the NBE鈥檚, and made it a priority that every one of us succeeded! &nbsp;As a result, I was able to pass both my NBE Arts and NBE Science鈥檚 on the first try and obtain full licensure 2 months after graduation!&nbsp;</p><p>Thank you 开云体育!!! &nbsp;You guys are truly the best!!!&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field--label sr-only">Departments</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/97" hreflang="en">Funeral Services Program</a></div> </div> </div> Wed, 09 Jul 2025 20:52:04 +0000 spitts@ntcc.edu 10544 at Rebecca Marshal - Funeral Service Grad /node/10543 <span>Rebecca Marshal - Funeral Service Grad</span> <span><span>spitts@ntcc.edu</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-07-09T15:44:30-05:00" title="Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - 3:44 pm">Wed, 07/09/2025 - 3:44 pm</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2025-07/Rebecca%20Marshall%20Headshot.JPG?itok=QfwNlBS2" width="189" height="220" alt="Rebecca Marshall - Funeral Serivce Grad" class="img-responsive"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial-quote field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Being a very visual and hands-on learner, 开云体育 has the perfect instructors for that type of learning!</p></div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>When I first started in 开云体育鈥檚 Funeral Service program, I had no prior funeral experience, aside from when I had attended funeral services as a guest. I have always been drawn to the funeral service industry and so when I found 开云体育 and that they offered a degree in funeral service, I knew that was where I wanted to start the path to my career. After researching the program and knowing that this was it, I decided to apply. From the moment I applied the abundance of communication drew me in. Any question I had for Mrs. Scott throughout the enrollment process was answered in such a timely manner that it kept me from having to be concerned about any deadlines that were approaching within the enrollment process.</p><p>Mrs. Scott was sure to check with me within any class scheduling to make sure that it fit my needs and my lifestyle. Once my class schedule was finalized and the semester was approaching, I had the program director contact me, along with all the new students to inform us of orientation. I think Mrs. Garder has put together an awesome team of instructors for the 开云体育 Funeral Service program. Throughout the program we had multiple teams鈥 meetings for all students enrolled in the program just to check on everyone, have some team building, have guest speakers, and just make sure everyone is doing well within the program. 开云体育 instructors also held team meetings for specific classes. 开云体育 instructors had discussion boards as well. The amount of communication in the program and between students and instructors was one of the top pros that kept me choosing 开云体育!</p><p>Any time I was struggling and wasn鈥檛 comfortable speaking about it in a team鈥檚 meeting or discussion board, I could reach out to that specific instructor and sometimes they were available immediately and sometimes I had to schedule a meeting, but never did I have to wonder if an instructor was going to communicate with me on my issue or concern. All of the discussions and teams and projects did eventually help me overcome the nervousness I had about speaking in front of people!</p><p>Aside from the location of 开云体育 to my home, and communication being top reasons I chose this school, the program itself was very inclusive and had a lot of hands on learning. Being a very visual and hands-on learner, 开云体育 has the perfect instructors for that type of learning!</p><p>Throughout each semester there were group projects, which not only got you in research mode, but also got us into interactive mode. I made multiple friends, that I still speak to even to this day because of the discussions, group projects, and coursework the instructors assigned for the funeral service program.</p><p>I loved the restorative arts class and how we got to build an armature from base up! We got to choose a face we wanted to recreate, we had to do weekly updates with photos and add them into a discussion with the other students in the class. It was so much fun seeing everyone鈥檚 progress. Mr. Schmidt would go through and leave constructive comments that would help us during the next week鈥檚 assignments and the next set of steps. All the instructors not only had excellent communication skills, but they also were very constructive when it came to any changes that could take place or when returning grades.</p><p>The internship class was intense for me, given that I had no prior experience in the funeral service industry. Mrs. Shurtz was amazing at helping students locate internship sites if we needed help, she communicated quickly and helped with keeping all hours and case logs in order so that we always knew where we were within that course. Mrs. Shurtz was very detailed oriented when it came to grading our case reports, making the next one submitted easier to complete and understand. Within the internship program we also had an instructor led embalming that we got to do as a small group. That was a great experience where I learned a lot due to it being hand on, instructor led prep.</p><p>Finally, clinical week! Clinical week was a blast. The instructors had a week of events planned out where we were broken up into groups and there were individual projects or 鈥渟tations鈥 that had to do with situations within the funeral industry. Having a mock arrangement conference, a mock removal with 鈥渇amily鈥 present, suture practice, reconstruction of a skull lab, and many others helped give me a small glance at what my future in the funeral service industry would look like.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field--label sr-only">Departments</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/97" hreflang="en">Funeral Services Program</a></div> </div> </div> Wed, 09 Jul 2025 20:44:30 +0000 spitts@ntcc.edu 10543 at Randy Nolen, Funeral Service Grad /node/10542 <span>Randy Nolen, Funeral Service Grad</span> <span><span>spitts@ntcc.edu</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-07-09T15:09:28-05:00" title="Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - 3:09 pm">Wed, 07/09/2025 - 3:09 pm</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2025-07/Randy%20Nolen%20Headshot.jpg?itok=53omFNTB" width="142" height="220" alt="Randy Nolan" class="img-responsive"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial-quote field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>The combination of rigorous academic training, hands-on experience, ethical discussions and personal reflection created a holistic learning environment that prepared me well for a second career dedicated to supporting individuals during some of life鈥檚 most challenging moments.&nbsp;</p></div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>After retiring at the age of 62 from a full career in education, I began working part-time for Bates, Cooper, Sloan Funeral Home. &nbsp; The more time I spent there, the more I recognized the profound impact that compassionate care can have during one of life鈥檚 most challenging moments. &nbsp;Inspired by the support I received from the funeral home staff and from my past experience of losing close family members, I realized that I wanted to help others navigate their grief. &nbsp;With the endorsement from my family and the Funeral Directors at Bates, Cooper, Sloan, I enrolled in the Funeral Service Program at 开云体育.</p><p>Participating in the Funeral Service Program offered a unique opportunity to engage with the intricacies of end-of-life care, grief management, and the cultural significance of funerals. &nbsp;I gained invaluable insight into the emotional and logistical aspects of funeral services while developing a profound respect for the profession.</p><p>The program was rigorous, filled with both academic coursework and hands-on training. &nbsp;I was immersed in subjects such as anatomy, embalming techniques, and legal regulations governing funeral practices. This knowledge was crucial in understanding not only how to prepare a body for burial or cremation, but also how to navigate the complex legal landscape surrounding death. &nbsp;Additionally, courses on grief counseling provided me with tools to support families during their most vulnerable moments.</p><p>A significant part of this experience involved learning about grief and its psychological impacts on individuals and families. &nbsp;The program emphasized empathy and active listening skills necessary for providing support during times of loss. &nbsp;We engaged in role-play exercises that simulate interactions with grieving families, which helped me develop a compassionate approach when addressing their needs. &nbsp;Understanding different cultural perspectives on death further enriched my ability to connect with diverse communities.</p><p>Ethics played a pivotal role throughout my training. &nbsp;Discussions around ethical dilemmas faced by funeral directors were frequent, emphasizing integrity, transparency, and respect for deceased individuals and their families. &nbsp;Understanding these ethical principles prepared me for real-world challenges where difficult decisions must be made while maintaining professionalism.</p><p>I would be remiss if I did not mention the instructors in this program. &nbsp;The instructors in this program were incredibly helpful, providing not only expert knowledge in their respective fields but also fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment. They were always approachable, offering guidance and encouragement that inspired students to deepen their understanding of the complex subjects required. Their dedication to student success was evident through their willingness to provide additional resources and engage in meaningful discussions that extended beyond the classroom. This commitment to student development made a significant impact on my educational experience, enhancing both my academic achievements and personal growth.<br>Completing the degree in the Funeral Service Program was enriching both professionally and personally. &nbsp;The combination of rigorous academic training, hands-on experience, ethical discussions and personal reflection created a holistic learning environment that prepared me well for a second career dedicated to supporting individuals during some of life鈥檚 most challenging moments. &nbsp;I emerged from this program not only equipped with practical skills but also with a sense of purpose, ready to make a meaningful contribution within this vital field.</p><p>Word Count: &nbsp;538<br>&nbsp;</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field--label sr-only">Departments</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/97" hreflang="en">Funeral Services Program</a></div> </div> </div> Wed, 09 Jul 2025 20:09:28 +0000 spitts@ntcc.edu 10542 at George Edwards /node/10541 <span>George Edwards</span> <span><span>spitts@ntcc.edu</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-07-09T15:02:20-05:00" title="Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - 3:02 pm">Wed, 07/09/2025 - 3:02 pm</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2025-07/George%20Edwards%20Headshot.PNG?itok=pYtCn0Gt" width="147" height="220" alt="George Edwards - Funeral Service Graduate" class="img-responsive"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial-quote field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p><span style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;font-size:11.0pt;line-height:107%;">I embarked on my college career at the age of 53.&nbsp;Two years later I graduated with an Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Service, and I am thrilled with my decision to attend 开云体育.</span></p></div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Greetings to everyone reading this testimonial. My name is George Edwards. I started the funeral service program at 开云体育 in the fall semester of 2022. Unlike most students, I embarked on my college career at the age of 53. I began working for a funeral home, part time, in 2020, and after a few months I made the transition to full time. It wasn鈥檛 long before I found that being a funeral director and embalmer is where the long road has taken me. I started my research on the few colleges in Texas that offer a funeral service degree. The cost of most of them seemed expensive. I found 开云体育 and did my research. &nbsp;I found it to be more affordable and discovered it had a well-established success rate for their graduates, which was impressive.&nbsp;<br>Being a first-time student, I didn鈥檛 know what to expect from the college experience. From my initial call to 开云体育, I was met by the most helpful people. I had access to many staff members who helped me sort out everything I needed to do to begin my college experience. Everyone I spoke with made me feel welcome and wanted. This warm reception made my decision easier, and two years later I am thrilled with my decision to attend 开云体育.</p><p>In August of 2022, after many phone calls and emails, I was enrolled into the funeral service certificate program to receive my funeral director license as quickly as possible. Less than a year later, in July of 2023, I took the National Board Exam for Funeral Directing and received my license. The staff and professors prepared me well for the exam, and I passed on the first attempt with a good grade. I immediately enrolled to continue my studies for my AAS in Funeral Service at 开云体育. &nbsp;Two years later, I graduated with an Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Service.</p><p>Olga Scott, Program &amp; Student Coordinator of Funeral Service Education, worked diligently to set the program up in the way that worked for me and my schedule. &nbsp;She has always been great at returning my emails with the multitude of questions I had. &nbsp;Rebecca Gardner, Associate Professor &amp; Director of Funeral Services, also consistently answered my emails quickly. I can鈥檛 thank the staff and faculty enough for what they鈥檝e done to see me through the funeral service program. Abby Shurtz, Brant Davis, Benjamin Schmidt, Savannah Toews, Jennifer Lares, Manuel Osorio, and many others have made my college experience meaningful and productive.</p><p>A word of advice- don鈥檛 hesitate to reach out to any of your professors or faculty for any assistance you need. They truly want to see all their students succeed and will take time out of their own lives to make it possible. Not once have I felt like I was bothering them with my emails and questions. Being in an online class, you don鈥檛 have the luxury of raising your hand. That鈥檚 why email, Teams, and the various ways to communicate are available. &nbsp;Also, make sure you are ready to commit to the program. &nbsp;This is why I waited for 35 years after graduating high school. I wasn鈥檛 ready to commit to college. I thought I already knew everything. But guess what? I didn鈥檛! (Just a little humor, but true). If anything in this life is worth doing, it鈥檚 worth doing your best. Although the professors and staff are excellent at what they do, they are not miracle workers. It will take a tremendous effort on your part to accomplish your goal, and the goal of funeral service is a noble profession. Students, do your part, and the professors and staff at the 开云体育 funeral service program will prepare you well and will lead you to success.</p><p>I once again want to thank 开云体育 for their affordable Funeral Service Program, and all the effort that the staff and faculty put into educating young minds. It has truly been a wonderful experience to be able to attend college in this capacity. Please continue the great work you do for your students. You are appreciated more than you know. Best of luck to everyone that attends this program and I hope to be considered your colleague in the future.</p><p>I wish you all the best.<br>George Edwards<br>Funeral Director<br>Former student @ 开云体育<br>Provisional Embalmer</p><p>&nbsp;</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field--label sr-only">Departments</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/97" hreflang="en">Funeral Services Program</a></div> </div> </div> Wed, 09 Jul 2025 20:02:20 +0000 spitts@ntcc.edu 10541 at David Streeter /node/10540 <span>David Streeter</span> <span><span>spitts@ntcc.edu</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-07-09T14:54:13-05:00" title="Wednesday, July 9, 2025 - 2:54 pm">Wed, 07/09/2025 - 2:54 pm</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2025-07/David%20Streeter%20Headshot.jpeg?itok=kVBz49y1" width="169" height="220" alt="David Streeter - Funeral Service Graduate" class="img-responsive"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial-quote field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>If you鈥檙e considering a career in funeral service, I can say with full confidence: there is no better school nor program than 开云体育鈥檚 Funeral Service Program.&nbsp;</p></div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>When I began my journey at 开云体育 (开云体育) in August 2023, I had been away from law enforcement for some time and found myself in a season of searching trying to figure out what was next for me in life. Entering the funeral service program was both exciting and nerve wracking. I was transitioning careers, working a full-time job, a part-time job, and raising my daughters all while taking on a new academic challenge in an online format. I didn鈥檛 know what to expect, but I was ready to give it everything I had.</p><p>From the beginning, 开云体育鈥檚 program structure helped ease my worries. The flexibility of asynchronous learning meant I could complete my coursework on my own schedule, as long as I met the Monday midnight deadlines (with a few exceptions). That flexibility was key, but I also quickly realized how important it was to stay engaged, read instructions carefully, and reach out to my professors for clarity when needed.</p><p>Although I grew up in the funeral industry and was no stranger to the world of funeral service, this program opened my eyes to how much the field had evolved. My first semester, with three classes, was a good warm-up. But the second semester balancing four classes with work and fatherhood truly tested my resilience. Despite the challenges, I was committed. I pushed hard, never missed a deadline, and when needed, I advocated for myself. I know there were moments when the professors were probably wondering, 鈥淲ho is this guy?鈥漛ut I was simply determined to succeed.</p><p>What I came to appreciate deeply was the way 开云体育鈥檚 funeral service faculty led with compassion, discipline, and unwavering support. The lectures, reading material, and projects didn鈥檛 just prepare me for board exams, they prepared me for real world conversations and job interviews. From explaining casket selection to understanding the historical significance of funeral directing, the knowledge I gained gave me an undeniable edge.</p><p>One of the most validating moments of my journey was being awarded the North Texas Chapter of the Texas Funeral Directors Association 2024 academic scholarship. It was a powerful confirmation that I was walking in purpose. And after passing my finals and being cleared to graduate, I wasn鈥檛 sure if I鈥檇 make it to the graduation ceremony but something told me to go. That evening, as I drove onto campus, tears filled my eyes. It was really happening.</p><p>As soon as I walked into the building, I was greeted by Mrs. Scott, who recognized my voice instantly and embraced me with pride. Then meeting Mrs. Gardner, Dr. Lares, Mr. Schmidt, Mrs. Carrington, Mrs. Shurtz, and Mr. Davis in person, faculty who actually remember who I was and had encouraged me every step of the way, was nothing short of special.</p><p>I graduated from the program with a 4.0 GPA, passed my board exam on the first attempt, and today, I am a licensed Texas funeral director proudly serving families with compassion and dignity during their time of bereavement. This journey affirmed my calling and gave me the tools to walk in it confidently.</p><p>If you鈥檙e considering a career in funeral service, I can say with full confidence: there is no better school nor program than 开云体育鈥檚 Funeral Service Program. The program doesn鈥檛 just teach you how to work in this industry, it prepares you to serve, to lead, and to honor this calling with excellence and heart.</p><p>开云体育 changed my life and I鈥檓 forever grateful.</p><p>&nbsp;</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field--label sr-only">Departments</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/97" hreflang="en">Funeral Services Program</a></div> </div> </div> Wed, 09 Jul 2025 19:54:13 +0000 spitts@ntcc.edu 10540 at Lares, Jennifer /directory/lares-jennifer <span>Lares, Jennifer</span> <div class="field field--name-field-photo field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/180x220/public/2024-10/laresJennifer.jpeg?itok=mzvGViSd" width="180" height="220" alt="Jennifer Lares - Funeral Service Instructor" class="img-responsive"> </div> <span><span>mrussell@ntcc.edu</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-08-28T16:01:01-05:00" title="Wednesday, August 28, 2024 - 4:01 pm">Wed, 08/28/2024 - 4:01 pm</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-first-name field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Jennifer</div> <div class="field field--name-field-last-name field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Lares</div> <div class="field field--name-field-position-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Funeral Service Instructor</div> <div class="field field--name-field-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item">Funeral Services Program</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-phone field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">903-380-7844</div> <div class="field field--name-field-email field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">jlares@ntcc.edu</div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Funeral Director, Embalmer, Certified Celebrant, Traveler, Dog Mom, Research Nerd/Industry Obsessed</p><p>Jennifer Lares (MBA, DBA) has been a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in FL since 1998 and also holds an active dual license in TX (2017). Over the course of her career spanning 30+ years, she has been licensed in WA, NV, TN, and NC. She also served in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman specializing in Mortuary Affairs from 2007-2012.</p><p>Jennifer began teaching after graduating in 2019 with her Doctorate of Business Administration (UIW). She has been an Adjunct Instructor with 开云体育's funeral service education program since 2021, where she has taught a variety of courses. She has published research pertaining to the funeral industry, which she has presented at social science conferences in Detroit, MI, and Princeton, NJ. Jennifer has presented various industry topics at events in TX (Emerging Leaders, South Texas Funeral Directors Association). &nbsp;</p><p>Most recently, prior to becoming a full-time Instructor with 开云体育, Jennifer served as a Mortuary Officer (civilian) at the US Army Regional Mortuary, Europe &amp; Africa, located in Landstuhl, Germany. She specialized in returning fallen service members and other eligible persons home.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-syllabus field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field--items"> <div class="field--item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--syllabus paragraph--view-mode--default"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-dept-order field--type-integer field--label-hidden field--item">8</div> Wed, 28 Aug 2024 21:01:01 +0000 mrussell@ntcc.edu 9731 at Student Testimonials /academics/programs-study/health-sciences/funeral-services/student-testimonials <span>Student Testimonials</span> <span><span>spitts@ntcc.edu</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-10-03T10:33:24-05:00" title="Tuesday, October 3, 2023 - 10:33 am">Tue, 10/03/2023 - 10:33 am</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-department field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field--item"><div> <h2><a href="/taxonomy/term/97"> <div class="field field--name-name field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Funeral Services Program</div> </a></h2> </div> </div> Tue, 03 Oct 2023 15:33:24 +0000 spitts@ntcc.edu 8893 at Scotty Meade /node/8892 <span>Scotty Meade</span> <span><span>spitts@ntcc.edu</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-10-03T10:30:31-05:00" title="Tuesday, October 3, 2023 - 10:30 am">Tue, 10/03/2023 - 10:30 am</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2023-10/Scotty%20Meade_0.jpg?itok=DamWupdx" width="165" height="220" alt="Scotty Meade" class="img-responsive"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial-quote field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>The funeral service program at 开云体育 is top notch.&nbsp; I was never a big fan of remote/online based learning but between the setup of the program and the excellent staff, it was easy to keep up with everything that needed to be done.&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>The funeral service program at 开云体育 is top notch. I was never a big fan of remote/online based learning but between the setup of the program and the excellent staff, it was easy to keep up with everything that needed to be done. Every staff member of the program has a great passion for teaching and helping you grow into the next generation of funeral service professionals. They have all the info to help you grow as a person and learn the information needed to pass your boards. You will have the opportunity to study with and learn from people from all over the country and the world. Not only does this open the chance to see different perspectives but also add colleagues when you are out in the world. If you put in the effort and listen to the fine staff at 开云体育, it is possible to pass your National Boards on the first try. Ask me how I know.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field--label sr-only">Departments</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/97" hreflang="en">Funeral Services Program</a></div> </div> </div> Tue, 03 Oct 2023 15:30:31 +0000 spitts@ntcc.edu 8892 at Krystal Parham /node/8891 <span>Krystal Parham</span> <span><span>spitts@ntcc.edu</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-10-03T10:26:44-05:00" title="Tuesday, October 3, 2023 - 10:26 am">Tue, 10/03/2023 - 10:26 am</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2023-10/Kosub%20Parham%20Krystal.jpg?itok=T1cdiA4I" width="220" height="211" alt="Krystal Parham" class="img-responsive"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-testimonial-quote field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Becoming a Funeral Director was not my first career choice even though my family has been in the business for over 60 years.&nbsp;What started as a one-year sabbatical, turned into a complete career change and I decided to pursue my Funeral Director鈥檚 License.&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>Graduated May 2023</p> <p>Becoming a Funeral Director was not my first career choice even though my family has been in the business for over 60 years.&nbsp; After high school, I wanted to make my own path, so I decided to pursue a career in mental health.&nbsp; For 10 years I worked as a Marriage and Family Therapist in a Community Mental Health Crisis Center with the most chronically underserved and at-risk population in San Antonio, Texas.&nbsp; When the pandemic hit in 2020, I made the decision to support my family as they fought to keep up with the staggering increase in demand placed on the death care industry.&nbsp; What started as a one-year sabbatical, turned into a complete career change and I decided to pursue my Funeral Director鈥檚 License in 2022.&nbsp;</p> <p>I attempted to enroll with other funeral certificate programs but as waves of COVID continued to hit, I did not have the time to jump through all the hoops of the application and enrollment process.&nbsp; At the 2022 TFDA Convention in Galveston, I had a chance encounter with Mrs. Olga Scott and Mr. Manuel Osorio at their booth for 开云体育.&nbsp; I had never heard of the program, but I knew Mr. Osorio from working with him in the funeral industry and I knew he would be a great professor.&nbsp; Mrs. Scott鈥檚 enthusiasm for the program was contagious and I knew this was the opportunity I needed.&nbsp; The application and enrollment process could not have gone any smoother.&nbsp; I applied online in late June, right after the conference, and got a response so fast that I was able to start classes in August, complete the certificate program in May and passed the board exam in June of 2023.&nbsp; It is hard to believe I went from applying for the program to provisionally licensed in less than a year. &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field--label sr-only">Departments</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/163" hreflang="en">Funeral Services</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/97" hreflang="en">Funeral Services Program</a></div> </div> </div> Tue, 03 Oct 2023 15:26:44 +0000 spitts@ntcc.edu 8891 at