Celestia Fraction received her bachelor’s degree from the College of Education from the University of Minnesota in 1956. She completed her master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling from Mankato State in 1972. At the time, she was director of training and a reading instructor at the Twin Cities Opportunities Industrialization Center. While pursuing and completing her studies at Mankato State, she was invited to teach in the college’s Experimental Studies Program until she graduated. Her emphasis was multi-cultural education and Afro-American history. Education for all persons has been a lifelong concern for Fraction. Her exposures and experiences to education and its strategies provided an excellent opportunity to move from Mankato State to a new concept. Minneapolis’ Community College hired her to develop and coordinate a new program, The Learning Assistance Center! Its emphasis is, “The Whole Person.” We offered counseling test assessment, peer tutoring in all courses, individualize programming and gathering data. Her forte and the center’s was to provide each person with tools to grow and mature in the arts of learning, caring, sharing, and loving. April 1988, the MCC was dedicated in her honor as its founder. Her retirement in 1984 is a continuation of her love for people and learning. She is busily involved as the Dean of Christian Education for Minnesota State Congress. Instructors in the Children’s Dinsiou of the National Congress of Christian Education, Working with black churches who wish to establish tutorial programs, mentor for several church, school and community groups, training in her own church, religious bodies, and educational circles. Among her many honors are the National Association of Developmental Educators Award For Outstanding Service to Students (1983) and recognition from the MCC Faculty Award for Outstanding Faculty Member and the Minnesota Association for Continuing and Adult Education as the Outstanding Counselor/Teacher/Administrator/ Volunteer of the Year for 1984.
