Kay Hancock

Kay Hancock was a divorced single mom, earning good money in a frustrating job. But the daily sight of TCC's Northeast Campus, near her home, put nagging ideas in her head. She could learn a skill there, she thought. Did she ever. 

Hancock's now the coordinator of Tarrant County Government's wellness program for 4,000 employees. 

She earned an associate degree from TCC in '86 but kept growing, determined to build a good life for her son and herself. With grants and other encouragement, she added a bachelor's degree in physical education in '88 from Texas Christian University and in '90 a master's degree from there focused on exercise physiology. 

Earning those degrees meant temporary life in poverty for her and her son, but she found a career path in wellness that led to rewarding positions, culminating in her role at Tarrant County. And she set an example for her son who grew up respecting higher education. He now holds a business degree and is a chartered financial analyst.  

Looking back, Hancock recalls that she faced torturous challenges after enrolling at TCC in '76. She took core classes that tested her patience, but she found her destiny in one of them. 

"I was forced to take a Health Concepts class" to earn an associate degree, she said. "I felt that was a serious waste of my time and money. But it actually turned my life around to a certain extent." In that class, she discovered her passion for wellness programs. 

"The rest," she said, "is history."

- By David House