Alumni Spotlight: Ariel Oglesby

Photo: Ariel Oglesby (center) stands on the Seminole State softball field with her sisters Aimee (left) and Autumn (right).

Name: Ariel Oglesby

Title and company: I work at West Marion Community Hospital in Ocala in the emergency department as a registered nurse (RN). Also, I work at Ocala Eye Surgery Center part time as a RN.

Years attended Seminole State College: 2013 - 2015

Degrees earned while at Seminole State: Associate in Arts in 2015

Did you go on to a four-year college or university following your time spent at Seminole State?
I finished my RN education at Rasmussen College in Ocala and I am currently furthering my education with Chamberlain University to be a family nurse practitioner.

What position did you play on the Seminole State softball team?
I played second base from 2013-2015.

Any favorite memory of your time, team or Coach Courtney Miller?
It's hard to pinpoint a certain moment in time from Seminole and call it a "favorite memory." All of my memories from there were so much fun and something I often think and talk about. I always talk about my time at Seminole State as "some of the best years of my life." One of my favorite memories was hitting a walk off home run against Daytona State College my sophomore year and rounding second base seeing Coach Courtney jumping up and down ready to fist bump me.

How did your experience as a student-athlete help with your life of current situation?
Being a student-athlete helped shape me into to the adult I am today. I would not have been able to go straight into nursing school if it wasn't for Seminole State offering me a scholarship to get me started in college. And I definitely wouldn't have been able to tough out nursing school if it wasn't for the Seminole State coaches instilling a good foundation. Being a student-athlete taught me grit, hard work ethic, good time management skills, how to be a team player and so much more.

Can you share an uplifting story about your work that you have experienced over the last few weeks?
Over the last few weeks it has been incredible to see the medical field team together to fight off this virus. All areas of medicine including nursing, doctors, techs, the cleaning staff, management etc., we have all been working together to make the hospital a clean and safe place and to help people get better. I can't praise my ER team enough for all the hard work and dedication they are providing for our patients, especially during this critical time.

Anything else you want to add?
I just can't thank the staff enough at Seminole State and the athletic department for making me the person I am. It also touches my heart that even after all of these years, you guys continue to reach out to me and stay connected. We were part of a family there and it gives me such joy to feel that I am still a part of that family. Y'all stay safe out there and #RaiderNation forever!

Learn more about Seminole State's softball program at seminolestateraiders.com/sports/softball!