After 30 years of work in an office management position, Belinda became a dislocated worker. She began applying for jobs, but many of the jobs required an associate degree to apply. "I had to start thinking about the possibility of going to college," Belinda said.

Belinda's former co-worker and current friend told her that she was attending Hocking College with the help of the Community Action Agency. Belinda began seriously thinking about going to college for the first time in her life at the age of 51 years old.

"I started out thinking pretty small," Belinda said. "I thought I will just take a few Microsoft classes and see where that leads me." Her friends and family were all very supportive of the idea of her attending college, but she still had her doubts. "Would I be able do it? Would I be the oldest person in all of my classes? Did I remember how to study and write papers for school?" Belinda wondered to herself. Despite the doubts, Belinda called Vicki Gillam at Community Action and got accepted into the WIA program which funds displaced workers who are going back to school.

She was nervous about being a non-traditional student, but, to her delight, she found that she fit in with my fellow students. Belinda also had her preconceived notions about what classes and faculty would be like at college. "I thought way back to the days of being in third grade when I had a terrifying teacher who snuck up on me and smacked my knuckles with a ruler when she caught me writing with my left hand," Belinda said. "Boy, am I ever glad to tell you the faculty and staff here were nothing like that mean old teacher. All my instructors were considerate, caring, patient and encouraging. I was and am still deeply touched by the personal attention and help I received from all of them." She even became a member and President of the Kappa Beta Delta Honor Society and a member of the PTK honor society during her time at Hocking College.

"I have created bonds with faculty, staff and students that will stay with me for the rest of my life," Belinda said. "I never dreamed I would be the first person in my family to graduate from college, but I am thrilled to tell you that I won't be the last. My nephew, who just graduated high school, will be attending Hocking…following in my footsteps."

Her remarks at the graduation ceremony concluded with this: "I want all of you to realize that you will never know what's possible if you don't try. For some of you, that means continuing on with your bachelor's or beyond. Don't let your fears or doubts keep you from achieving your dreams."

Will you help students like Belinda gain the knowledge and skills required for today's workforce? Your donation to Hocking College makes dreams come true everyday for students who, for financial reasons, find a degree out of reach. We appreciate your dedication to the college and our students, and we need your help now more than ever, to help more students like Belinda.

Our dream is that all Hocking College students obtain their degrees and go out into the workforce with little or no college debt; that our faculty and staff to have the resources they need to provide a world-class educational experience for our students; and for this to happen in buildings conducive to learning, with 21st technology so our students have the experiences they need to succeed in their careers.

Reductions in government funding...
The elimination of Ohio College Opportunity Grants for our students...
An increase in the amount of student loan debt...
Recent changes in the federal Pell Grant program that have tightened restrictions on eligibility...

These are the realities we face. They're challenges that we can, and will, overcome, if we work together.

Hocking College plays an important role, not only in our individual students' lives, but also in Southeastern Ohio's economy. And that's one of the reasons we come to you today.

Your contribution is vitally important to Hocking College - both for today and into the future.