Wendy Fettig, Temple College's Dual Credit & TBI Student Success Navigator, works with TBI student Ariana Helt. Helt graduates Saturday, May 13, with her Associate in Science degree. (Photo by Steve Lemmons, Temple College)
2022 TBI Graduate Credits Fettig with Helping her to Commencement Stage
Each workday, Wendy Fettig hands out a heavy dose of high-fives, fist bumps and hugs to her students.
Fettig serves as student success navigator for Temple College’s Texas Bioscience Institute (TBI) and dual credit high school students. Her job is to provide “wraparound support” to these students and their families as they work through their rigorous programs of study.
She said a “normal” day is rarely spent in her office. She said she’s up and down the hallways, talking with students, checking in with them regarding their classes, following up to ask them about their lives outside of school.
“I love helping people,” Fettig said. “There have been mornings when I feel horrible, but what gets me going is knowing that there are students who need me.”
One of those students is Ariana Helt.
On Saturday, Helt – a graduating senior at Temple High School – will graduate Temple College with her Associate of Science degree. She has said publicly that her successful completion of the program is due, in large part, to Fettig’s support.
Earlier this semester, Helt paid tribute to Fettig by nominating her to be recognized during the Temple Education Foundation’s Academic Recognition Ceremony.
“You’ve showed me that there are still genuine people in this world. Thank you for never letting me give up on myself,” Helt wrote in a letter to Fettig.
Fettig held back tears when she talked about the letter and the recognition she received for her work with Helt.
“It’s a huge accomplishment to make it into the TBI program,” Fettig said. “I let Ariana know, ‘You can do this.’ Now, here she is, ready to walk, and she’s in the top 20 percent of her class.”
That’s the job of a student success navigator – helping students throughout Temple College’s service area reach the goals they’ve set for themselves.
“Every day is rewarding,” Fettig said. “I’m where I’m supposed to be.”