STLCC – the Starting Point for Three Generations

Posted April 11, 2012

With a legacy of success that spans three generations, St. Louis Community College was the stepping stone in their lives that made all the difference.

Stacy Gee Hollins, Information Systems department chair at STLCC-Florissant Valley, her mother, Diane Weaver, and grandmother, Laverne Haulcy, are proud to call themselves STLCC-Florissant Valley alumni. Both Hollins and Weaver received associate degrees in business administration in 1993 and 1984, respectively. Laverne graduated from STLCC-Florissant Valley with an associate degree in human services in 1982.

Hollins is very proud of her family legacy and often credits STLCC as the starting point to her family’s success.

Weaver and Haulcy were both late starters. They began pursuing their degrees at a non-traditional age. It was Weaver who was instrumental in motivating Haulcy to complete her degree. After obtaining associate degrees, they all were able to secure good jobs and go on to complete their bachelor’s degrees.

At the tender age of 20, Hollins simply was motivated by her unborn child, who was the one driving force that inspired her to finish school. She was offered a scholarship from Phi Theta Kappa due to her hard work and dedication. After graduating from STLCC, she received yet another scholarship from Saint Louis University and her employer to pursue a bachelor’s degree in communications. Hollins currently is pursuing her doctorate in education at University of Missouri-St. Louis.

With more than 45 years of experience in geriatrics, Haulcy has worked numerous roles and held many leadership roles within the field. She says that STLCC helped lay the foundation for her success.

Weaver is now an entrepreneur and started her own company, Creating Options, based out of Virginia. She was employed with the federal government for more than 30 years. For approximately 13 years, she worked as an Equal Employment Opportunity director, supervisor, manager and senior leader in several large federal agencies.

Hollins has more than 17 years of progressive technology and education experience.

“I love technology and finding new ways to use it in everyday life,” she said. She is highly skilled in designing and implementing classroom and web-based curriculum.

Hollins says that STLCC-Florissant Valley was very connected with the community, and made sure resources and assistance were always available. The same features that attracted her to attend STLCC as a student motivated her to return to the college as an employee.

“St. Louis Community College has been the foundation of higher education for three generations in my family,” Hollins said. “STLCC will always be viewed as the turning point in our successful careers. It made us hunger for more education.”

This year, STLCC is celebrating 50 years of educating the community. To hear what our alumni have to say – or to tell us your own story –visit our website at STLCC.edu/50. Whether you took a single class here or you earned your degree at STLCC, we want to hear your story.