Alumnus Committed to Easing Test Anxiety

Staff Spotlight: Sheryl Hooker

In 1998, after moving around the world with her Navy husband, Sheryl and her family finally docked in the Janesville area. Ten years later, she joined the Blackhawk family as the switchboard operator. “I was drawn to the educational setting because I had always wanted to return to college,” she recalled, “but never felt confident in my abilities to be a successful student. After a few months here, I realized I wasn’t alone in this feeling.”

She was soon promoted to administrative assistant in the academic support division. Learning more about the world of education and watching the Blackhawk staff rekindled dreams of getting her college degree. “I remember enrolling in my first class, going home that night and saying to my husband, ‘Oh, by the way, I am going back to school.’” She thought it was a practical joke when her economics instructor told her that she’d earned an A. That boost in confidence encouraged Sheryl to keep going and complete her degree at BTC. She went on to graduate from Upper Iowa University’s Human Services program in 2014 with a 3.89 GPA.

Now, Sheryl works in the testing center of Blackhawk Tech. She plans, develops, and coordinates the delivery of testing center services.  While most people think of exams at college in terms of midterms and finals, the testing center administers tests for college placement, tests for students petitioning into Health Science and Radiology, and other industry-standard evaluations.

In March 2020, the testing center had to learn how to administer these highly secure assessments in a remote world. It was a challenging transition. Requiring students to have cameras on while they tested, glitches in the software that took too long to get sorted, and concentrating in an environment that might not be the same as the testing center made difficult situations even more stressful.

“It was bad at first,” Sheryl recalled, “but I can see how this will become the norm. In the end, it was a good thing and opened the door for many students needing to test.”

Sheryl, and those who work with her, can share story after story of how she has gone out of her way to help BTC students accomplish their testing. Testing is an anxiety-producing experience and requires a persistent, kind-hearted person to help testers feel comfortable and confident in their ability to succeed.

Lisa Hurda, Director of the Blackhawk Foundation, recalls how stressful it was for her daughter to take her TEAS test (required for all students applying to nursing school) after an unsuccessful attempt due to technical difficulties. It was a tight timeline, which meant that if glitches continued, Lisa’s daughter Ella might not have made the deadline for applying to her program.

“Sheryl was the ‘mother’ for me as she settled Ella down and got her into a quiet area of the testing center and helped her clear the browser before starting the test (to ensure it was clear and this would not be an issue). Ella had a wonderful experience due to the helpful and caring support Sheryl provided to my daughter. I cannot thank her enough for what she did to help and comfort both myself and my daughter. She was our life-line as well as our lifesaver,” said Lisa.

Lynn Neitzal, Director of Teaching and Learning Resources, recalls when Sheryl guided a truck driver who could not make the scheduled GED classes due to his truck route being a national route. “Sheryl helped him get into the online GED resources, served as his contact at the college, provided self-study materials to him to work on the road, and reviewed his practice tests with him. He was so grateful that when he was able to come in, he gave Sheryl a stocking cap that his wife had knit for him. Sheryl, in turn, wore that hat when he came in to take his GED tests,” explained Lynn. “We are pleased to announce that he passed. And Sheryl continues to go above and beyond like this for so many students.”

It’s no surprise that Sheryl says what she likes most about her work is the students. “Their stories are so much like mine,” she said. “Fear of failure, scared to take that first step, wondering if you’re going to fit in. But at Blackhawk, everybody fits in. Everybody’s given that equal opportunity, whether it’s race, gender preference, age, income level, learning abilities, or disabilities. If you speak Spanish, French, or you’re from Kenya, China, Taiwan, or Albania. It doesn’t matter. The heart of every employee at Blackhawk is to see each student succeed. Everyone at Blackhawk, from the switchboard operator to the President, invests 100% of themselves in doing everything we can to make sure every student of every ability of every background and ethnicity succeeds.”

Sheryl’s commitment to students in the community is not limited to the ways she assists BTC students. She also serves on the board for Project 16:49, which provides resources and services to unaccompanied teens. “From my first viewing of their documentary, I knew I wanted to be involved in this organization,” she said. “I cried so hard after viewing it. The thought of children sleeping in cars and couch surfing tears my heart apart. To see how far I’d go to support Project 16:49, you’ll have to view my past four performances for their annual Lip Sync Battle and this year’s Masked Singer.”

Sheryl’s coworkers consistently refer to her as unfailingly kind and having a smile for everyone no matter what might be going on in her own life. “Many students stop in the Student Success Center,” Lynn said, “not because they need support at any specific time but just to talk to and reconnect with Sheryl.”

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