Surgical technology student Lyla Cowo of Oklahoma City recently found out she won $5,000 as part of TFCU’s “College Cash” contest. “I was shocked,” she said. “When I started the program I had to leave my job. I just couldn’t juggle both. This helps alleviate a lot of that stress.”
Lyla found out about the contest when Metro Technology Centers emailed students encouraging them to enter and be one of five winners in 2023. “She’s a leader in our class – very active and outspoken,” said Cindy Strite, MetroTech coordinator/instructor of surgical technology. “She’s always happy, cheerful and willing to help me and her classmates as well.”
Lyla’s been a TFCU member since she was 16 and moved from Belize to Oklahoma. “I have a lot of family members who bank with TFCU, so when I moved here I opened my accounts,” Lyla said. “My brother took me to the nearest TFCU branch.”
After finishing the surgical tech program, Lyla will take a national board exam to become certified.
“Certified graduates work in a hospital or a surgery center,” said Cindy. “They work directly with nurses, surgeons and anesthesiologists – making sure everything is sterile and ready for a successful surgery.”
Lyla said she has always been interested in the medical field. “I’ve always been about helping others. My parents have taught me that I can make an impact regardless of my title,” she said.
Lyla’s parents, Noemi and Salvador Cowo, weighed in on their daughter’s success, “We’re so proud of her and all of her hard work,” Noemi said.