During high school, Samuel Lian experienced homelessness, depression, and a dysfunctional family life.
“It affected my high school grades. My ACT scores didn’t qualify for scholarships, but I heard about Tulsa Achieves,” he says.
Although Samuel was unsure what he wanted to do after high school, he knew college would help him find his momentum.
Using the Tulsa Achieves Scholarship, he enrolled at TCC. He credits the support from the TRIO program for successfully getting him to graduation. He says the program allowed him to enroll early, allowing him to get the class schedule he needed and select the professors he wanted. This and the added TRIO support and resources helped him consistently earn A’s.
Samuel, who was the first in his family to attend college, graduated in May 2022 with a Psychology degree.
Non-Traditional StudentJonica King is a mother of four children who decided to go to college to be a voice for the voiceless. Her daughter, who has special needs, has been her inspiration. “A degree will help me to...
TCC 50 Notable AlumniJoseph (Joe) attended Tulsa Junior College, now Tulsa Community College, in 1970, the year it opened as the first public higher education option in Tulsa. “Financially unable to attend a big...
TCC 50 Notable AlumniAfter graduating from Tulsa’s Will Rogers High School in 1971, Dani’s mother became ill and passed away. Abandoning her plan to attend a larger state college, Dani enrolled in classes at...