OJC Press Release ID: 2588

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

OJC’s Phi Theta Kappa fundraises for alumna’s daughter

The Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Otero Junior College has dedicated their fall fundraiser to support the daughter of former OJC student, athlete, and coach, Melissa (Perea) Martinez.

Melissa, a graduate of La Junta High School, an all-region and academic All-American performer as a softball player at OJC. She continued her collegiate career from 2004-2005 at CSU-Pueblo. She began her coaching career at OJC as an assistant coach for two seasons and had a very successful four-year stint as head coach of the Rattlers from 2006-2010, finishing her career at OJC with an overall record of 146-67. In 2010, she joined the Colorado State University Ram’s coaching staff, led by Head Coach Jen Fisher, her coach while at OJC.

In addition to Melissa’s connections to OJC, Melissa’s mom, Shirley Perea, retired last December after 27 years at OJC’s Child Development Services Headstart.

Melissa’s one-year-old daughter, Malea, has been in and out of Children’s Hospital in Denver struggling a rare disease called Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID). Malea’s full story can be seen at https://www.gofundme.com/maleamartinez . She and her parents need some support to get thru the tough times ahead.

To raise the funds, PTK members will place a decorative toilet in various staff and faculty offices. The toilet can be removed with a donation of $10, or $15 if the office dweller wishes to choose the next office receiving the toilet. To discourage slow responders, a $5 per day rental fee will be charged after the first day. The fundraiser will continue until Thanksgiving break.

In the OJC Alumni spirit of, “Once a Rattler, Always a Rattler,” PTK is proud to support a fellow Rattler. If you would like to contribute, you can do so through the GoFundMe site or by contacting Wayne Beadles, OJC’s PTK advisor.

In addition to this fundraiser, PTK continues to support scholarships through the Great Foundation Wall. For a donation of $30 current students can have a brick placed on the Great Foundation Wall after they graduate. This program encourages student to “Commit to Complete” their degrees or certificates.

Alumni, faculty, staff and other supporters of OJC may have a brick placed on the Great Foundation Wall for a donation of $150 to the Otero Junior College Foundation. Go to http://www.ojc.edu/about/supportojc/foundation/default.aspx and scroll down for details.

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society serves to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students and provide opportunities for individual growth and development through honors, leadership and service programming.

PTK members at OJC hope to “fill the tank” for former OJC student, softball player and coach, Melissa (Perea) Martinez to help support her daughter Malea’s care.