Tulsa Community College fosters a close-knit community of aspiring leaders and innovators, providing various programs to support student development.
One such program is the New Student Orientation (NSO) Leader Program, a summer opportunity that has inspired and shaped many students. Among them is Ethan Clegg, a Tulsa Community College Foundation Scholarship recipient and NSO leader, who sat down with TCC Connection to share his academic journey and the impact TCC has had on his career path.
Ethan Clegg, a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, began his college journey at TCC. Passionate about leadership and involvement, he quickly found himself immersed in numerous campus activities while pursuing his degree.
What are you majoring in, and what are your plans after TCC?
Ethan: I’m currently majoring in electrical engineering, and this is my third year at TCC. I plan to transfer to the University of Tulsa to earn my Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering.
What inspired you to choose this major?
Ethan: In high school, I was on Booker T’s robotics team, and I fell in love with designing, building, and maintaining the electrical components of robots. The more I looked into it, the more I knew this was what I wanted to do.
Are you involved in any TCC organizations? Tell me about your role and experience.
Ethan: I was the president and founder of Lead(ers) TCC, an organization that promotes leadership opportunities on campus. As a peer mentor, I wanted to go beyond academic support and help students build connections, develop life skills, and navigate their majors. We also guided students in managing finances and applying for scholarships in and around Tulsa.
After stepping down from Lead(ers) TCC, I founded Omicron Lambda, a student organization dedicated to orientation leaders. It provides a space for leaders to collaborate and continue supporting incoming students.
How has receiving the TCC Foundation Scholarship impacted your academic journey?
Ethan: Because my degree is course heavy and I needed two extra semesters, I ran out of Tulsa Achieves funding last semester. The Foundation Scholarship helped bridge that gap between Tulsa Achieves and Oklahoma’s Promise, allowing me to continue my education without financial stress or taking on an extra job.
How did you get so involved at TCC?
Ethan: It started with small things, playing pool with classmates and dropping by Student Life to see what was happening. I wanted some extra cash, so I applied for a peer mentor work-study position. Then, I looked for summer jobs and found the Orientation Leader program. I applied, even though there were 30 applicants, and I wasn’t sure I’d get it, but I did. That’s when I met Nash McQuarters, the program director, and I wanted to learn everything about TCC and how to help students. I probably asked Nash a hundred questions, he might say I annoyed him until I got every answer.
From there, I kept finding more opportunities. Eventually, I became a TCC Ambassador for Campus Tulsa, a nonprofit connecting students with internship opportunities. I started just looking for a part-time job, but that involvement led me to so much more.
Tell me about your experience at TCC Foundation Dinner?
Ethan: It was a euphoric experience to be able to represent something that I’ve poured so much time and effort into, and being able to not only help it succeed but help other students understand they have these funds available to them, to be able to start going to college and to continue going to college. I was able to represent a community that I love and that was immensely satisfying.
How do you balance school, work, and life with such a busy schedule?
Ethan: I won’t lie, sometimes it’s a challenge. I prioritize my schedule at the beginning of the semester, setting my class and work commitments. Some weeks, I may have to take a day off work to study for an exam, but having a semi-strict schedule helps. Over time, it becomes a habit.
Looking back, what advice would you give yourself when you first started at TCC?
Ethan: So many things! Number one, research professors and set up your degree works plan early. If your major has a transfer agreement with another university, get familiar with it so you know exactly what classes to take instead of guessing. That would have saved me a lot of time.
Is there a professor, class, or experience at TCC that has been especially meaningful to you?
Ethan: I truly believe TCC doesn’t have bad professors, just different teaching styles that may or may not match how you learn. My favorite professor was Joshua Gregory, my math professor. He made complex topics easy to understand and was approachable whenever I had doubts.
For science, Professor Matthew Smith at Metro Campus made chemistry not just understandable but genuinely interesting.
What has your experience at TCC been, and what have you gained from it?
Ethan: If I had to boil down my experience at TCC, it would boil down to two things. The first one being, if you’re on campus, do something: start a study group, coach at student life, engage in their events. You don’t even have to volunteer for the events. Just going to the events where they just hand out food is usually enough to be able to find these other opportunities on campus, and then the other one would be in between semesters. Don’t forget that TCC exists. All of the friends that I’ve made here at TCC I’ve met through orientation, primarily, and they are some of the most talented, creative people that I’ve ever met, and without them, my TCC experience would not be what it is.
As Ethan Clegg’s journey at Tulsa Community College continues to unfold, his story serves as an inspiring example of leadership, determination, and the power of community. Through his dedication to both academics and student involvement, Clegg has not only shaped his own future but has also left a lasting impact on the TCC community. His experience shows that with the right support, opportunities for growth are endless.