Tulsa Tech Student Elected Oklahoma BPA President
By JOHN HUNTER
Interim Superintendent
PRESIDENT ELECT: Tulsa Tech student Cable Rakes is transforming his military skills into a significant leadership role within the civilian workplace.
Courtesy Tulsa Tech
Business Professionals of America () is the leading Career Tech Student Org-anization for students pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related career fields. The student organization has more than 50,000 members, in over 2,300 chapters located in 23 states.
Cable Rakes, an adult student who is currently studying Digital Media and Web Technologies at Tulsa Tech, was recently announced as president-elect of the Oklahoma .
Although Mr. Rakes was excited about the win and the opportunities which are available to everyone who participates in , he politely admitted that running in a race has always been as much fun to him as crossing the finish line.
“I’ve always enjoyed a little competition,” Rakes says. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a computer game, a class project or a student organization; I just enjoy setting a goal, competing against others, and pushing myself to do my best.”
This 41-year old Broken Arrow resident is very familiar with the process of setting a goal, checking his bearings, and then moving straight toward the objective. Serving in the United States Navy as a sonar technician on Los Angeles class submarines helped to strengthen those skills.
“I served for six years in the regular Navy, and then six more years in the Naval Reserve,” Rakes explaines. “I spent time on both the U.S.S. Houston and the U.S.S. Bremerton, and later worked in information technology while I was in the Naval Reserve.”
Patty Denton, one of Rakes instructors at Tulsa Tech, thinks very highly of her student and didn’t hesitate when asked why she feels he’s such a valuable asset in the classroom.
“Cable is the most determined student I have had the privilege of having in class,” Denton says. “He’s like a sponge, soaking up as much technical knowledge available, and once he learns a course, he’s able to apply that technology.”
Of course, many students could be described by their instructors as good students, but this quality alone might not be enough for an individual hoping to lead one of the nation’s top student organizations.
“Cable is a born leader,” Denton says. “Last year he asked if he could lead the campus in a clothing drive to donate professional items so that veterans would have the proper dress for job interviews. He adapts to work either in teams or individually and on any project, and he communicates easily with both adults and high school students.”
Rakes is an excellent example of the many veterans that attend Tulsa Tech to translate their military skills into significant leadership roles within the civilian workplace. And while Tulsa Tech is very excited to have the Business Professionals of America president-elect as a student, administrators feel even more proud to have an individual in the classroom who has served our country, demonstrates such skill, professionalism, and humility to others, and reminds everyone each day what a privilege it is to be an American.
If you’re currently looking for quality business and industry training, exciting classes for high school students, or simply trying to find your bearing, Tulsa Tech invites you to visit today. For more information, call 918-828-5200 or visit www.tulsatech.edu.
Updated 04-23-2012
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