ADVERTISEMENT Perseverance and Family Support Propel NTC's Erica Manker Towards her Dreams Erica Manker and her fiancé Brian Peterson "I decided to contin- Erica Manker has faced many challenges while ue with my schooling to pursuing her education. As prove to my kids, four of a non-traditional student whom have special needs, committed to raising her that a disability doesn't de. Success Story family and living with a fine who you are and that Medical Coding: nervous system disorder, you can still achieve your she is now on her way to dreams," Manker said. earning multiple degrees from Northwest Technical College. NTC At Northwest Technical College in Bemidji, students can obtain a This year, after achiev- ing her goal to sustain a 4.0 GPA, Manker received certificate, diploma or of applied science degree in medical coding. Each credential builds on the one before it, and all offer job opportunities in the Bemidji region. as In January 2019, Manker NTC's Outstanding Busi- contracted Guillain-Barré ness and Medical Coding syndrome, a rare disorder Student Awards during the where the body's immune Second Annual Achieve- system mistakenly attacks ment Day. She also re- the nervous system, and ceived the Perseverance became paralyzed from Award for her resilient the chest down. In 2019, attitude toward her educa- she spent seven months tion. in a rehabilitation center at the University of Min- her medical coding cer- nesota. Since then, she has tificate and is on track to regained some mobility graduate in December but lost all or most of the 2021 with an associate of nerves in her legs, left arm applied science in business and right hand. Despite all and certificates in account- 2022," she said. "I plan to of the challenges present- ed by the disorder, Manker is not giving up on her aca- demic goals. For more information, contact the NTC Office of Admissions at admissions@NTCMN. edu, call (218) 333-6600 and ask for admissions or visit https://www.ntcmn. edu/admissions/visit- campus/. In May, Manker received start up my own medi- cal billing business with. an emphasis on employ- human ing, management and business entrepreneurship. She will also receive a diploma in ing those who are handi- resources Motivated by the desire healthcare administrative cap-able, like myself." to better herselfr and push support. towards a stable and suc- cessful future, Manker said should be well enough Manker said that she al- she persevered through into recovery to finish my her medical condition for diploma and associate in ways found encourage- her six children with the applied science degree in help of her fiancé. Although facing a num- ber of obstacles in her life and academic career, "Once I finish that, I ment and support from her children, her fiancé medical coding by May and her NTC mentors. ADVERTISEMENT Perseverance and Family Support Propel NTC's Erica Manker Towards her Dreams Erica Manker and her fiancé Brian Peterson "I decided to contin- Erica Manker has faced many challenges while ue with my schooling to pursuing her education. As prove to my kids, four of a non-traditional student whom have special needs, committed to raising her that a disability doesn't de. Success Story family and living with a fine who you are and that Medical Coding: nervous system disorder, you can still achieve your she is now on her way to dreams," Manker said. earning multiple degrees from Northwest Technical College. NTC At Northwest Technical College in Bemidji, students can obtain a This year, after achiev- ing her goal to sustain a 4.0 GPA, Manker received certificate, diploma or of applied science degree in medical coding. Each credential builds on the one before it, and all offer job opportunities in the Bemidji region. as In January 2019, Manker NTC's Outstanding Busi- contracted Guillain-Barré ness and Medical Coding syndrome, a rare disorder Student Awards during the where the body's immune Second Annual Achieve- system mistakenly attacks ment Day. She also re- the nervous system, and ceived the Perseverance became paralyzed from Award for her resilient the chest down. In 2019, attitude toward her educa- she spent seven months tion. in a rehabilitation center at the University of Min- her medical coding cer- nesota. Since then, she has tificate and is on track to regained some mobility graduate in December but lost all or most of the 2021 with an associate of nerves in her legs, left arm applied science in business and right hand. Despite all and certificates in account- 2022," she said. "I plan to of the challenges present- ed by the disorder, Manker is not giving up on her aca- demic goals. For more information, contact the NTC Office of Admissions at admissions@NTCMN. edu, call (218) 333-6600 and ask for admissions or visit https://www.ntcmn. edu/admissions/visit- campus/. In May, Manker received start up my own medi- cal billing business with. an emphasis on employ- human ing, management and business entrepreneurship. She will also receive a diploma in ing those who are handi- resources Motivated by the desire healthcare administrative cap-able, like myself." to better herselfr and push support. towards a stable and suc- cessful future, Manker said should be well enough Manker said that she al- she persevered through into recovery to finish my her medical condition for diploma and associate in ways found encourage- her six children with the applied science degree in help of her fiancé. Although facing a num- ber of obstacles in her life and academic career, "Once I finish that, I ment and support from her children, her fiancé medical coding by May and her NTC mentors.