Lauren Gay is a Tampa native and full-time student at Hillsborough Community College (HCC) who has stepped into leadership positions to make the most of her college experience. From being elected as the Brandon Campus Student Government Association (SGA) President to serving as HCC’s student trustee for the 2024-2025 academic year, Lauren is inching closer to pursuing her future.
Lauren’s educational journey started through homeschooling and obtaining her General Education Diploma (GED) through Brandon High School’s GED nighttime study program. After receiving her GED, she enrolled at HCC in spring 2023 where she began studying business administration for corporate law. She chose HCC for its affordability and believed that the institution specialized in helping students like her obtain their degrees.
“It’s getting me closer to my career goals,” she said. “I believe it’s for a career I can feel comfortable in.”
The connections Lauren has made at HCC have filled her with pride and inspired her to go above and beyond as they did. Her math instructor Monica Chen, psychology instructor Fednold Thelisdort, leadership instructor Tametryce Collins, English instructor Christina Connor and Academic Support Services Manager Andrew Magrath, have been engaging supporters providing her with insight, support and wisdom to further her educational journey.
With the help of HCC faculty and staff as well as utilizing campus resources, Lauren was able to commit to pursuing her degree. Utilizing resources such as tutoring, food pantries, psychologists and much more, Lauren has thrived and believes students can follow in her place.
“All HCC campuses have similar resources to reach students where they are,” she said. “HCC resources offer something for almost every need an individual may have to be a successful student.”
Other campus organizations she’s been a part of include Phi Theta Kappa, Psi Beta and a student ambassador for Feeding Tampa Bay. She spent the first part of her HCC experience attending classes and immediately going home. After joining SGA, she was making friends, networking and establishing beneficial connections outside of college. She never would have believed she’d receive these types of experiences at a community college.
“I am a proud community college student,” she said. “I’m confident in my education and the connections I’ve made so far with students, faculty and other individuals associated with the college.”
For the 2024-2025 academic year, all five campus SGA presidents were asked to convene and vote on who would step up as student trustee. Lauren was extended the offer and was officially sworn into her position on Aug. 21, 2024.
“It felt pretty amazing, from having no high school education to attending four classes a week for my GED and starting college last year,” she said. “It was amazing, and people need to know it’s possible.”
Lauren plans to graduate from HCC in the summer of 2025, attend the University of South Florida to pursue her bachelor's degree and attend Stetson University for her master’s in business administration and a Juris Doctor degree before entering the career field. She hopes to one day have her own law firm in the future.
“I know I am already taking away a lot from the program,” she said. “They are the stepping stones I have gotten, and enthusiasm I’ve felt from teachers and students about all the subjects I’ve learned. I am excited to be your student trustee. Go Hawks!”