For the Michelini family, Hillsborough Community College (HCC) is a stepping stone to success transcending generations.
While attending H.B. Plant High School in 1998, Francesca Michelini enrolled in HCC’s dual enrollment program. Without knowing it, this decision would impact the education of her future children over 20 years later.
Francesca’s daughter, Valentina, would also enroll in dual enrollment while attending Alonso High School, and her son Nicholas would enroll at HCC after graduating from Town and Country Christian Academy in spring 2022.
Francesca was a full-time student while enrolled at HCC. She attended courses at the HCC Education Center at MacDill Air Force Base, the Ybor City Campus during winter intersession, and the Dale Mabry Campus both in person and online. She completed her Associate in Liberal Arts and Sciences pathway and received her Business Management certificate in 2000. Nicholas enrolled in the Tampa Electric (TECO) Electrical Line Worker Training program at the Brandon Campus and completed certification in January 2024. Valentina enrolled in summer 2023 with introductory online classes for the liberal arts and plans to transfer into humanities and pursue an Associate in Arts pathway in theatre.
“HCC helped me get my degree as a working adult,” Francesca said. “They offered courses on nights and weekends, especially at MacDill, which helped balance working and going to school.”
By completing the Business Management certificate, Francesca was able to apply the skills she obtained from her courses and land a high-paying job. She was encouraged to continue her education in a bachelor's program and later transferred to St. Leo University.
“HCC, as an institution, has been instrumental in paving the way for me to access an affordable, flexible and quality educational program,” she said. “It laid the foundation for academic learning in higher education.
Nicholas was homeschooled and never intended on pursuing a college degree until he learned of HCC’s Electrical Lineman program. He expressed excitement in the learning opportunities and support he received from his instructor, Curley McKenzie, and advisor, Shauntay Ocasio.
“The program taught me the skills and knowledge to become a lineman,” he said. “Which was a career I wanted to do for a long time.”
For Francesca’s daughter, Valentina, HCC’s dual enrollment program helped provide access to an affordable and quality class selection to further her education. With a supportive environment and accessible dual enrollment classes, she garnered a higher high school grade point average with the extra classes. She plans to use this benefit to apply for her preferred bachelor's program.
“I wasn’t prepared to take extra classes. I was taking four classes at school and three new classes online,” Valentina explained. “It became easier balancing my time when adding classes from HCC. Be prepared to manage your time and focus on it all the time. It’s a big move to sign up and balance extracurriculars.”
When choosing HCC, Francesca found the courses attainable, high quality and efficient. She has seen to the growth and transformation of the college after she graduated, such as student engagement, student housing, textbooks and the registration process.
“They’re great programs for working individuals and parents,” she said. “If someone has to balance childcare or caretaking, the opportunities for taking classes online, at night or on weekends, even during winter intersession, provide opportunities to advance while balancing responsibilities.”
For Nicholas, HCC was at a convenient location for an affordable price and similar quality to that of other institutions.
“When TECO was putting on a program with HCC students, I was very interested,” he said. “I signed up in July 2023, a year prior, and boot camp was in January 2024. It required an application and physical process.”
Nicholas knew with the long hours of physical tests throughout the days, the hard work was worth the reward.
“Stay hydrated and get comfortable with what you’re doing up there on the poles,” he suggested. “Climbing up the power poles sometimes 20 times a day, digging, hanging cross arms, carrying transformers 40 feet and more while under the hot sun. It’s very rigorous, but I was excited to get started. Sometimes it shows in your work with comfortability. Focus.”
Valentina decided on dual enrollment through a recommendation—her guidance counselor at school pointed her in the right direction to register and select classes. She received further assistance through HCC’s student services.
“I could call them for anything, even online, they’re always happy to help. Same with the Institute for Corporate and
Continuing Education (ICCE),” Nicholas said.
Francesca suggested HCC resources that helped her, namely the library, the campus administration buildings and financial aid.
“When you walk right in,” she started. “They’re always able to help.”
Francesca’s time at HCC was shaped by faculty engagement and encouragement. She took an art class where she submitted a photograph in a competition, winning second place and having it displayed temporarily in the Dale Mabry Campus gallery.
Her professors provided advice and support to complete her HCC journey and continue the best and most affordable educational journey. She loved it and saw the impact on her children.
Nicholas felt his instructors went above and beyond by engaging and presenting opportunities to students. He was invited to the HCC Foundation’s annual Presidential Showcase and showcased the program’s design and desired goals alongside his classmates. He was also invited to participate as a student speaker for his graduating line worker class.
Nicholas plans to continue his education with the TECO apprenticeship program while transferring into the career field. He has also considered attending a technical school while he’s working.
Francesca now works at the University of Florida and is pursuing a Ph.D. in family, youth and community science.
Her daughter, Valentina, plans to continue at HCC following dual enrollment.
“I am so proud to have HCC as part of our family,” Francesca said. “I look forward to supporting your programs through my testimony in any way I can, and I proudly credit HCC as the starting point for my academic future.”
To learn more about HCC's dual enrollment program, the Electrical Line Worker program, the Business Management
Certificate, the Liberal Arts and Sciences AA pathway or the Theatre AA pathway, visit the HCC website at hccfl.edu for more information.