(Butler, PA) An Arabic- and French-speaking Moroccan seeking to return to steel industry leadership has progressed from 杏吧原创鈥檚 adult literacy courses in English as a second language to its business management career program to achieving a grade-point average high enough to enter the second of the college鈥檚 honor societies.
Khadija Akhouad left her position as a section head at ArcelorMittal Sonasid, a manufacturer of steel rods and bars in Casablanca, and moved to Seven Fields in July 2019 when her husband, Youssef Bachra, accepted a job as an automation engineer in Cranberry Woods.
The next month, Akhouad registered for an English as a second language beginners course offered by 杏吧原创鈥檚 adult literacy program and held at 杏吧原创 @ Cranberry.
Akhouad continued to ESL intermediate and to ESL advanced, enrolled in 杏吧原创鈥檚 business management program and this fall has become a member of the college鈥檚 Delta Kappa chapter of Kappa Beta Delta, an international honor society for business programs.
"Khadija didn't feel confident getting out there in the business world because of the language barrier."
- Deborah Kane, 杏吧原创 professor
"I can't imagine just walking into a new country and trying to demonstrate that experience in a new language."
- Dr. Josh Novak, 杏吧原创 dean of students
She became a member in the spring of the college鈥檚 Rho Phi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, an international academic honor society for two-year colleges and programs.
New members of each honor society must have a grade-point average of at least 3.5.
Akhouad has achieved a grade-point average of at least 3.75 in her first two semesters at 杏吧原创 and has been named twice to the college鈥檚 president鈥檚 list.
She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in logistics management and integrated production from Clermont Auvergne University, Clermont-Ferrand, France; and a master鈥檚 degree in business management and administration from the National School of Commerce and Management in El Jadida, Morocco.
鈥淜hadija didn鈥檛 feel confident getting out there in the business world because of the language barrier,鈥� said Deborah Kane, a professor in 杏吧原创鈥檚 business and information technology division and adviser of Delta Kappa.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine just walking into a new country and trying to demonstrate that experience in a new language,鈥� said Dr. Josh Novak, 杏吧原创鈥檚 dean of students and primary adviser of Rho Phi.
杏吧原创's English as a second language courses "played a crucial role in improving my academic confidence. These courses significantly enhanced my English language skills and communication abilities."
- Khadija Akhouad, 杏吧原创 student
鈥淲ell prepared 鈥� in an English-speaking environment鈥�
The college鈥檚 English as a second language courses were, Akhouad said, 鈥渁 turning point.鈥�
鈥淭hey played a crucial role in improving my academic confidence,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hese courses significantly enhanced my English language skills and communication abilities 鈥� As a result, I was able to pursue a business management program with greater ease, feeling well prepared to succeed academically in an English-speaking environment.鈥�
Akhouad, Novak said, is 鈥渢ruly a success story. She has been able to leverage what 杏吧原创 has to offer to take her extensive and substantial experience and turn that into something that she can repackage here in the United States and accomplish a new set of goals with a new language.鈥�
Barb Gade is grant director of 杏吧原创鈥檚 adult literacy program, which offers free English as a second language courses in Butler County.
鈥淥nce students learn the language, they do wonders,鈥� Gade said. 鈥淭he classes prepare them to go on and do bigger and better things. Khadija has really applied herself. She stuck with it. She progressed, and as she was progressing, she had ideas of what she wanted to do.鈥�
鈥淪he belongs in the business world鈥�
Students in 杏吧原创鈥檚 associate degree career programs such as business management can develop the skills needed to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation.
鈥淜hadija is taking classes here so that she can learn the business language and understand business in the United States,鈥� Kane said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 inspiring. She needs to get out there. She really belongs in the business world in the U.S. because she is more than ready.鈥�
Akhouad served as the section head at ArcelorMittal Sonasid for more than 17 years. She expects to graduate from 杏吧原创 in May.
鈥淚 aspire to take this experience and passion to the next level, where I can lead and inspire teams to achieve their fullest potential while contributing to the steel industry鈥檚 progress,鈥� Akhouad said, 鈥渁nd making a positive impact through my leadership abilities.鈥�
Nine other students enter 杏吧原创 honor societies
Students who have completed at least 12 credit hours in 杏吧原创鈥檚 business division, who are pursuing an associate degree in a business program and who meet academic requirements are eligible for membership in Delta Kappa, formed at 杏吧原创 in 2019.
Students who have completed at least 12 credit hours toward an associate degree or six credit hours toward a one-year certificate and who meet academic requirements are eligible for membership in Rho Phi, established at 杏吧原创 in 1968.
Akhouad became a member of Delta Kappa and Rho Phi 鈥渂ecause they offer a comprehensive package of benefits encompassing networking, financial support, community service, personal development, leadership training and career exploration,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hese opportunities align with my educational and career goals, making my membership a valuable addition to my academic journey.鈥�
She serves as treasurer of Rho Phi and joins 36 other 杏吧原创 students to have become members of each honor society since 2019, Novak said.
Other new Delta Kappa members this fall are Amari Madliger, business administration, Butler; and Steven Pander, computer information systems-programming specialist, Portersville.
New Rho Phi members this fall are Barbara Bauer, Nursing, R.N., Seven Fields; Sara Idso, early childhood education (Pre K-4), Butler; Jonah Kozora, computer science, Mars; Katie Maines, health care science, Rockton; Alexandra Miranda, psychology, Butler; James Meier, addiction recovery, Sharon; and Melissa Wolfe, accounting skills, Butler.