Differing educational journeys led two MC alumnae to discover their career goalsNovember 21, 2024

Midland College (MC) alumnae Hena Patel and Elizabeth Whitten are just two examples of the College’s varied student population.  While both young women received their associate degrees from MC and graduated as Honors students, their family backgrounds and educational journeys are extremely different.  They are now successfully pursuing additional degrees and working in their respective career fields.  Patel is a young single woman living in Fort Worth pursuing a career in science.  Whitten is a married mother of two who lives in Midland, works for Midland ISD and is pursuing a degree in education.  

Hena Patel moved to Midland from India when she was 6 years old.  Her parents work in hotel management.  When she started first grade at De Zavala Elementary School in Midland, she couldn’t speak any English.  However, she quickly overcame that obstacle, and by the time she attended San Jacinto Junior High School, she was speaking English fluently and excelling in her studies, especially math.

“Math just always came easy for me,” Patel said.  

Rather than taking a traditional high school route, in 2017 Patel enrolled in Early College High School (ECHS) at Midland College.  As an ECHS@MC student, she participated in an accelerated high school curriculum and simultaneously took Midland College courses.  In May 2021, she graduated from high school and also earned an Associate of Science degree from Midland College.

“While I was taking courses at Midland College, I discovered a passion for science,” she explained.  “I took as many science courses as I could and participated in the Midland Chemistry Club student chapter of the American Chemical Society.  I also participated in Midland College science research projects.  Because of that opportunity, I decided that I wanted my career path to go in the direction of scientific research and/or academia.”

Patel remained at MC an extra year to take additional science and math courses.  She also participated in the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society serving as the club’s vice president of Leadership for one year and then as the President of the MC chapter for another year.  Under her leadership, the Midland College PTK Chapter was named one of the top 30 chapters in the nation.

“My experiences at Midland College helped me to gain leadership skills and also made me self-reliant,” Patel said.  “I had some great professors who encouraged and mentored me, especially Dr. Terry Gilmour and Joseph Schenkman.”

In 2022, Patel transferred to the University of North Texas and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in July 2023.  She then moved to Fort Worth and worked in quality assurance for Alcon, the global leader in eye care and the largest eye care device company in the world.  This past August, Patel enrolled at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth and is working on a Master’s of Science degree in Biology.

Like Hena Patel, Elizabeth Whitten was also a member of the Midland College PTK Honor Society, and while Patel was among the club’s younger members having graduated from MC at the age of 18, Whitten was slightly older than traditional college age when she participated in the club in her late 20s.

“Midland College is actually the third higher education institution that I attended,”  Whitten explained.  “I was born and raised in New Deal, Texas, near Lubbock, and I graduated from New Deal High School.  While I was still in high school, I was offered a partial scholarship to the American Dramatic & Musical Academy in Los Angeles.  So, there I was in LA—a 17-year-old girl from New Deal, Texas.  It was definitely an eye-opener!”

Whitten said that she did well and learned quite a bit while in Los Angeles.  She even got a small non-speaking part in the comedy television series Modern Family.

“I was adjusting to life in Los Angles but had to leave due to a family emergency and decided that it was best that I continued my education closer to home,” she said.  “So, I enrolled at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) in Canyon.  Since I no longer had a scholarship, I was also working two full-time jobs.  Even with a very hectic schedule, I was managing, and I met and fell in love with my future husband Joseph. Then, one day when I was auditioning for a part in WTAMU’s production of Legally Blonde, I fainted and was subsequently diagnosed with a brain infection.  Once again, I had to drop out of school.”

After recovering, Elizabeth married Joseph on Valentine’s Day in 2015.  The couple lived in various small West Texas towns, including Pecos and Fort Stockton.  However, life was not easy.  Whitten said that at times, they found themselves homeless.  

In 2017, they moved to Midland, and their lives began to get better.  Joseph found steady employment, and after their children started school in 2021, Elizabeth was able to concentrate once again on her studies—this time at Midland College.  While attending MC part-time, she also worked as a kindergarten teaching associate with Midland ISD.  In 2023 at the age of 29, she graduated from MC with an Associate of Arts degree in Teaching and is now an Associate Teacher at MISD teaching 3rd grade Reading and Social Studies. 

Whitten is currently enrolled in the Sul Ross @ MC program working toward a Bachelor’s degree in Education.  As such, she is able to take all courses online or virtually through Sul Ross State University and never has to leave Midland, which she said is perfect for her life with a family and full-time job.  

Although Hena Patel’s and Elizabeth Whitten’s Midland College experiences are different and their lives have taken different paths, they both said that MC helped them discover and develop the skills and talents that have led them to their respective career goals.

Photo:  Hena Patel (left), Elizabeth Whitten (right)