Hello, my name is Nita Scoggan, and I promote healthy lifestyle and success in daily living. I am a published writer and have over 30 years experience in providing health and happiness coaching to our society. Please take a few minutes looking around my site, and browsing my bookstore that has numerous published books I have written. Also, please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding your or your loved ones health.

My Recipe For Success: Maintain an optimistic outlook! Do your best on your job! and Count Your Blessings!

As a working woman almost all my life, I overcame numerous hurtful experiences that took perseverance and determination to endure and not give up!

Nita Scoggan’s Experiences Broke Barriers And Led the Way for Women’s Full Participation

Educational Exclusion - Barrier #1

I faced my first experience with barriers for females, came when I started my Senior year at Anchorage High School, in Alaska. We were very poor so it was impossible for me to go to art school or college. I made good grades and loved drawing, so I asked the Principal if I could take the Mechanical Drawing class. He said “No. It is a class for boys only. Girls would cause problems.”
I KNEW it was not fair! It was discrimination that prohibited my having equal access to education, because I was a female! I did not give up!

I explained that developing my skills for drawing could help me get a job after graduation; then, I would need a job. Based on my grades, I pleaded for a 2-week “trial,” to prove I could do the work and not cause problems. He said, “Ok, but the teacher won’t like it. If I hear of any disruptions, you’ll be out. No second chance.”

It wasn’t easy. I overcame the challenges and refused to talk to the boys! I excelled, making all A‘s in the class. The teacher wrote a recommendation for me, and Civil Aeronautics Authority hired me in their Drafting Dept.

After that, the barrier was gone, the Mechanical Drawing course was open to girls.

Sexual Discrimination - Barrier #2, In the Pentagon

Employed by the Federal Government for 32 years gave me work experience with many wonderful people. I took every assignment as a challenge to my ability, and I took graduate courses to advance my career. The graphics field was a man’s world. I worked hard to prove women could do those jobs. For 10 years, my job was on classified briefings for AF Operations Center with 11 men. In 1980, we stopped work to have birthday cake for a member. Everyone was eating and laughing. Harry, my supervisor yelled: “Nita, get back to work!” All eyes were on me. I was shocked and embarassed. He came back to where we gathered, shouting: “You’ve got a rush job!” I returned to work at my desk. Others, without any work, kept celebrating. I finished the job, turned in my briefing, and questioned why no one else got the rush jobs? He said, “Because I choose to give them to you!”

My husband insisted I report the incident to the new EEOC office. I did, but, it took courage. The EEOC man said at least one person had to verify the problem. I knew my top boss would be furious with me or anyone who stood with me. Thinking a Christian man would speak up, I gave his name. But, he didn’t say a word! The EEOC told me “forget it!” My friend kept quiet fearing loss of his job. It hurt, but I persevered.

I kept doing my best work. Two years later, I suggested and designed changes that were made to the Air Staff Conference Room, avoiding asbestos hazard. The Director honored me with a special award and ceremony, in the "new" Conference Room, filled with Air Staff officers --and my office mates in attendance.

Today, most of the "Glass Ceiling" barriers have come down for women. I was just a pioneer. 

 I Specialize in:

• Personal coaching to achieve health.
• Educational resources to improve health and SUCCESS!
• Motivational speaker providing wellness seminars that reduce absenteeism, increase productivity and reduce turnover.
• Million Dollar health.
• Messages tailored for universities, businesses  and conventions. Please see my Speaker page.

How did I get from a log house to the White House?

I grew up in Alaska, and we lived in a log home that my parents built themselves.

I was born in Texas -- so you may ask how did I get to Alaska?

We lost everything! 

Our home in Texas  washed away in a terrible flood when I was 6 years old.  The waters rose in the night and I awoke with water up to my knees. We fled from the house in our pajamas. We lost everything! Not long after that, we moved to California. My dad worked 5 years   for the railroad, but after losing everything we owned in the flood, we were still poor. One day dad came home and said "Honey, I quit my job and we're going to Alaska! I've got a job with the Alaska Railroad. We'll get 60 acres of land if we build a house and live there."

Our log house

My father, Jack, went to Alaska first and wrote glowing letters about the beauty and opportunities. A year later, my sister and I went to stay with grandmother in Texas, and mother joined dad in Alaska. It took them two years to build a log house while they both worked fulltime jobs. Then, they sent for us girls.

Our log house was fixed up really nice -- except we didn't have an inside bathroom, electricity, or running water .We were 2 miles from town, with no car. Oh, I learned to build fires and cook on the kitchen stove, carry water in 5-gallon buckets  from a well, wash clothes in a tub on a rub-board -- and how to shoot a rifle. I worked at the Army base every summer earning money for school clothes. I was a cheerleader, editor of the school paper and graduated in top third of my class. The very next day, I started work for Civil Aeronautics Administration in the drafting department. Later, married and had two sons.

From a log house in Alaska to Washington, D.C.

In 1953, I moved to Washington, D.C. and worked for the U.S. Air Force at the Pentagon, working with aerial photography and maps doing research work. On my lunch time, I attended a weekly ladies Bible study. In 1973, I was chosen to lead the class, which quickly expanded to a daily meeting. Every day was exciting as prayers were answered for the women. Soon, the room was packed! Women were sitting on the floor and  standing around the room! In 1984, I started teaching once a week, due to an invitation to teach at the White House!

1984-1998, Ministry at the White House.

Invited by Carolyn Sundseth, Associate Director of Public Affairs, to teach a prayer and Bible study class for staffers at the White House. Most of the time, we were scheduled to met in Room 180 - near the Oval Office. A bronze plaque outside the door state: This room was the Vice President's office from Herbert Hoover to George Walker Bush." What a place to meet to pray for the President, the leaders and our nation!  Because men attended  I asked my husband, Bill, to join me in leadership. Lives were changed as God answered prayer.  This  lunchtime ministry continued weekly over14-years -  through the administrations of Presidents Reagan, Bush and Clinton 'til December, 1998.

Starting A New Life In Indiana

In January 1999, we retired from Federal Service and moved to my husband's home in southern4 Indiana. We are both active in church, community affairs and serve as National Day of Prayer leaders for Lawrence County. I was appointed President of the Advisory Board for Oakland City University-Bedford for 2004-2005. As a member of the faculty, I teach Business and Liberal Arts courses, speak for chapel and various events

Photographs of Nita's limited-edition watercolor prints and note cards of Washington , DC are available at www.watercolor-online.com/nitascoggan.