January Thoughts on Higher Ed
by Stephen Scott
The following article appeared in the print issue of Ponca City Monthly magazine. Get full access to all online articles, videos and content by becoming a paid subscriber. We offer free and paid subscription plans. Find rack locations to pick up your free print copy here, or subscribe here to get online access plus exclusive content.
Everyone seems to love a good spy story. Often they can be very inspirational. Moe Berg was born in the Harlem district of New York City, the youngest son of Ukrainian immigrants. He really enjoyed school and started playing baseball at the age of seven. He graduated high school at the age of 16 and went on to eventually be accepted at Princeton where he graduated with his BA magna cum laude in modern languages, having studied Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Sanskrit. Upon graduation, his talent playing baseball landed him a position with a team eventually known as the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Moe went on to play professional baseball for 15 seasons on four different American League teams. But his thirst for knowledge never left him, so he used the “off season” time to earn his degree in law. He was a very popular player in his day and was constantly invited to social events, many overseas; and with his skill with different languages, he was approached by the U.S. Government Office of Strategic Services (OSS, now known as the CIA) to perform intelligence work. He readily accepted the opportunity to help our nation during World War II and traveled around the world using his celebrity status to gain access to people and locations which might have been difficult for others. For instance, as part of an All-Star team sent to Japan, he gained access to their military harbors. He made friends in Switzerland with a German nuclear weapon scientist to track Nazi progress in developing an atomic bomb. Even after the end of WWII, he continued to accept assignments from the CIA using his personality and social networking skills to get information from businessmen and politicians. Upon his death in 1972, he stated, “I’m happy I had the chance to play pro ball and am especially proud of my contributions to my country. Perhaps I couldn’t hit like Babe Ruth, but I spoke more languages than he did.”
Inquiring minds like Moe Berg want to learn, and he is just one example of what an education can do for you. Maybe even a life of mystery and intrigue! At the University Center of Ponca City there are no age restrictions to attend college classes in many fields, and we are working to bring even more courses to the UC. The possibilities are endless. Over half of the jobs needed in our state require a college degree, and our goal is to help students successfully complete classes in their chosen field, and in the process we can produce graduates to support current workforce demands and foster growth for our city and the state. We can help you with applications for grants and scholarships, both local and at the state level. An education is key to being independent and self-sufficient. Take some time to think about your future and see if the UC could be your pathway to get there.
At the University Center, our commitment is to develop high levels of quality relationships with our students. Our support staff works tirelessly to make sure that student needs are met and that our professors have the tools necessary to provide a high-quality education.
We hope you will stop by the University Center and speak with us about the opportunities available to you. We have a dedicated staff ready to provide you with the tools to start your journey to earn a degree in higher education. The University Center is committed to bringing degree programs to Ponca City that our students need to be effective in a global economy. We have a strong desire to see each of our students succeed and be ready to make a positive economic impact in our region.
We encourage you to begin today, and let us be the first to say, “Welcome to your future.” Please enjoy your visit to the University Center at Ponca City. To find out more about our programs, visit us online at www.ucponcacity.com