Campus Connection: Online student finds time to balance college, active duty military service, and family while earning a degree at Minnesota State College Southeast
By Katryn Conlin for the Winona Daily News
April 10, 2024
Not everyone who graduates from Minnesota State College Southeast will be in Winona to walk across the stage at the Commencement Ceremony on May 10.
Ornelia Watson-Bennett, who is serving in the United States Army, stationed in Hawaii, is one such student. She is graduating with an associate of applied science degree in Computer Aided Design (CAD) Drafting Technologies.
Her instructors, Jim Ziegler and Tyler Litscher, were pleased to receive a glowing thank-you note from her when she finished her final courses at Southeast in December.
"Reaching out to express how grateful I am for the support I have received throughout the duration of this course... The past two years have been truly eventful and stressful on most days, but with your support and understanding I got through the school portion of those days," she wrote.
Born and raised in St. Catherine, Jamaica, Watson-Bennett immigrated with her husband and children to Monticello, MN, in December 2018.
She enlisted in the United States Army in November 2019. She is currently stationed at Schofield Barracks on the island of Oahu in Hawaii and intends to commit to a 20-year career in the Army.
As a soldier, she discovered the CAD program at Southeast through the ArmyIgnitED portal.
"I am working towards becoming a Warrant Officer," she explained. "To accomplish this, I need to have at least an associate degree. I registered for military tuition assistance while doing this process and came across this program, which will assist me with accomplishing both my goals: to complete my bachelor's degree in civil engineering and become a Warrant Officer while doing so."
A strong support system
Watson-Bennett began the CAD program at Southeast in January 2021. She said she has balanced many challenges with the help of a strong support system.
"If it wasn't for my husband, I would not be able to accomplish most of what I have accomplished today. Being a mom, student, and active-duty service member feels like a breeze most days with his support."
Her day starts at 0500 hours (5 a.m.) every day. "My husband gets the kids ready and out the door for school. His work schedule is very flexible, so he supports my schedule daily to relieve some of the burden I face when I return home."
Despite a full day of military duty, she managed to find time for keeping up with her classes late at night.
"I'm up late most nights. Being up while everyone is asleep, it's very quiet. There's less distraction, so I use the time to complete assignments and get things prepared for the following day."
She added that she used down time during the day to do course work.
"During lunch while in the field I would use my phone to do what I could, such as writing reports or responding to classmates' discussion answers."
Even though Watson-Bennett has never met her instructors in person, she still felt connected to the college as an online student.
"I have only communicated with my instructors through email, but communication was very convenient and easy, even with the five hours' time difference in Hawaii and twelve hours while I was on rotation in South Korea," she said. "My instructors were very understanding and supportive."
"It is impressive how she has managed to fit all this in," said CAD instructor Jim Ziegler. "She is an excellent student and she should be very proud!"
Photo captions
Above: Ornelia Watson-Bennett, a new graduate of Minnesota State College Southeast, is serving in the Army at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.
Lower: Watson-Bennett and her family gathered on the beach in Hawaii in August 2023.