Drumright, Okla. – Central Tech Cosmetology Instructor Monica Frick was honored April 20 with the Marsha Daves Lifetime Achievement Award during the SkillsUSA State Leadership Conference in Tulsa. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a lifetime of service, leadership, and dedication to SkillsUSA and career and technical education.
Frick teaches Cosmetology on Central Tech’s Drumright campus and was selected for the prestigious honor based on her long-standing commitment to students, mentorship, and servant leadership within SkillsUSA. Recipients of the Marsha Daves Lifetime Achievement Award exemplify sustained excellence and have made a meaningful, lasting impact at the local, state, and national levels.
“Monica Frick is one of the most passionate educators on our staff,” said Shane Bruce, Drumright Campus Director. “Her love for cosmetology, her dedication to teaching, and her genuine care for students make her an exceptional instructor. She pours her heart into every lesson and every student, and her pride in Central Technology Center is evident in everything she does. Monica doesn’t just teach cosmetology—she inspires confidence, builds futures, and changes lives.”
The award is named in honor of Marsha Daves, a respected leader and advocate for career and technical education who devoted decades of service to SkillsUSA. Her legacy includes leadership at both the state and national levels and a lifelong commitment to empowering students and educators through SkillsUSA programming.
Frick’s connection to SkillsUSA spans both her professional career and her time as a student. As a postsecondary competitor, she earned a first-place national finish in Extemporaneous Speaking at the SkillsUSA National Leadership Conference – an experience that helped shape her passion for leadership development and student advocacy.
Through her continued involvement in SkillsUSA, Frick has helped guide students in developing strong technical abilities while also building confidence, professionalism and leadership skills that prepare them for success beyond the classroom.
“I want to thank my daughter, Lilly Allen, who teaches at Moore-Norman Technology Center, for nominating me,” Frick said. “This award is especially meaningful because Marsha Daves was the SkillsUSA advisor over cosmetology when I served as a state officer. Her leadership and teaching style shaped the way I mentor students today and continue to influence how I lead in the classroom.”
Central Tech proudly congratulates Monica Frick on this well-deserved honor and thanks her for her many years of service to students and the cosmetology program. Her commitment to hands-on instruction, leadership development, and SkillsUSA reflects Central Tech’s mission that everyone achieves success.