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SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 30, 2021

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CITY NEWS

SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 30, 2021

13

Ottawa gave him a passion for learning

BY SCOTT ALBRIGHT Ottawa University

F

loyd Daniels lost his job unexpectedly in 2013, when his employer closed its Phoenix of�ice. He was 39, had worked his way up to management level with only a high school education, and was now at a crossroads.

He realized education needed to be his priority, so he decided to pursue an associate’s degree in business administration and enrolled in Everest College.

Nearly two years later, with only two courses left to complete his degree, Everest �iled for bankruptcy in 2015 and closed all its campuses nationwide.

“Needless to say, I was devastated and discouraged. I just felt hopeless,” Daniels said.

“This is when I was introduced to Ottawa University’s Arizona campuses. I remember meeting with an Ottawa admissions representative, who encouraged me by saying, ‘It’s not over. Let me help you complete your degree.’

“I was defeated at the time, thinking maybe I wasn’t meant for school, so that’s exactly what I needed to hear.”

Daniels took the information shared with him about Ottawa’s �lexible, online adult education offerings, which included an opportunity to �inish his two outstanding associate’s degree courses and a transfer opportunity to get his bachelor’s degree from Ottawa.

Though he thought of taking a break, he received a call from the admissions department at Ottawa University-Arizona asking if he was ready to �inish his education.

“Even though I wasn’t yet convinced about my plan of action, something made me say, ‘Yes, let’s do it.’ By the summer of

Ottawa University in Arizona has campuses in Surprise and Phoenix.

(Photo courtesy of Ottawa University)

Floyd Daniels lost his job unexpectedly in 2013, when his employer closed its Phoenix office.

(Photo courtesy of Ottawa University)

2015, I was enrolled and taking my �irst class at OUAZ’s Phoenix campus.”

At 41, Daniels was now on his way to earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He was also working again, full time, putting in a minimum 55 hours per week.

“There were many times I wanted to quit,” Daniels said. “I �igured I made good money, so why did I need to continue? I came to the realization that this was not about the money. It was something I needed to do for myself. Not having a degree and working around many that did made me feel inadequate. This frame of mind really motivated me to push forward.”

In 2017, Daniels experienced what he says was “one of the proudest moments of my life”: He walked the commencement stage after completing his bachelor’s degree.

“I can remember saying, ‘God, please let me get through this,’ and, with his grace, I

did,” Daniels said.

There was something inspiring about the accomplishment and his experience at Ottawa. He wanted more.

“I never would have thought I’d consider pursuing another degree after what it took to get my bachelor’s,” Daniels said. “But that’s exactly what I did. In 2018, at the age of 44, I decided to take the leap once more and get my master’s in leadership from Ottawa.”

Daniels completed his masters in 2019.

He could have just moved on to the next chapter in his life.

But he wasn’t quite �inished yet.

“The strangest thing happened: I enrolled yet again!” Daniels said. “This time, I am pursuing a second master’s in human resources. I’m currently in my last two classes, which I will complete at the end of April 2021 at the age of 46.

“I won’t say this time that I’m done, because obviously I have developed a passion for continuing my education.

Ottawa instilled that passion in me and really changed my life.”

Daniels is the �irst and only member of his immediate family of eight to have completed any type of degree. He said

he will be forever grateful that “Ottawa took a chance on me and allowed me to live up to my potential.”

“It has truly been an honor, and I sing Ottawa’s praises every opportunity I get,” Daniels said.

To learn more about Ottawa University’s Arizona campuses in Phoenix and Surprise, visit ottawa.edu/ouaz or contact an enrollment adviser at 1-855546-1342 or ouazadmiss@ottawa.edu to set up an advisory session.

Founded in 1865, Ottawa University has grown from a single building in Ottawa, Kansas, into a comprehensive educational institution serving more than 5,000 students online, as well as through its residential campuses in Ottawa, Kansas and Surprise and adult campuses in Overland Park, Kansas; Phoenix; and Milwaukee .

OUAZ in Surprise opened in August 2017 and since then has grown to more than 800 students. With its adult campus in Phoenix, Ottawa University has had a footprint in metro Phoenix since 1977, with more than 8,000 alumni. Nationwide, the university has more than 22,000 graduates.

Information: ottawa.edu