The COVID-19 pandemic inspired Caitlin Wiltsey to pursue a career in the health care industry. "I knew I always wanted to do something in the medical field but didn't know exactly what. Covid solidified it. So many nurses are needed and I'm someone who wants to help people."
Wiltsey came to OCC in 2018 from Cuba-Rushford High School which is about an hour-and-a-half south of Buffalo. Initially she didn't know what she wanted her career focus to be, so she majored in Humanities & Social Sciences. She completed that degree in May of 2020, then decided to stay at OCC and enter the Health Sciences degree program. She'll finish work on that degree in May, then is hoping to be admitted to OCC's Nursing degree program. After she completes that degree, it will be on to SUNY Upstate Medical University.
In the fall of 2019 Wiltsey was invited to join the College's chapter of international honor society Phi Theta Kappa (PTK). She planned to become a member but not get too involved. That changed during the induction ceremony. "I was listening to (PTK Faculty Advisor) Dr. Tuttle talk about all of the projects they were working on and I decided I wanted to be a part of it."
Wiltsey started on the leadership team and eventually saw a big change in herself. "I was very quiet at first, but being part of the team brought me out of my shell and made me willing to do things that involved public speaking."
She went from the leadership team to the role of officer, and now Wiltsey is PTK chapter president. As the organization's student leader she has a level of excellence to maintain. In each of the last three years OCC's chapter has been ranked in the top ten in the world out of nearly 1,300 chapters. "When I joined PTK we had big shoes to fill. We took that and ran with it. Dr. Tuttle and Jackie (Barstow who is Coordinator of both the PTK chapter and the Lillian Slutzker Honors College) help us so much and give us guidance. I don't think we would be where we are without them."
