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P站视频 Alumnae Sabby Hightower Named 2021 LeRoy Collins Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

November 19, 2021 Suzanne Seldes

FORT PIERCE鈥擶ith an undergraduate career filled with what could have been insurmountable obstacles Sabby Hightower persevered, graduating from P站视频 (P站视频) with a B.S. in Healthcare Management. She lost her father and her husband. Then a blaze destroyed her home. Still, she excelled at her studies, stayed active in the college community, raised her four young children, and cared for her mother. In recognition of this and so much more, The Association of Florida Colleges presented Sabby with the Leroy Collins Distinguished Alumni 鈥楢gainst the Odds鈥� Award on Thursday, November 18.

鈥淥ur students and graduates all have remarkable stories鈥攏one more so than today鈥檚 LeRoy Collins against the odds recipient Sabby Hightower,鈥� shares Dr. Timothy Moore, P站视频 President. 鈥淪abby, we are so proud of you and all that you've accomplished and all that you have yet to do. You are a true P站视频 Pioneer and an extraordinary example for future Pioneers. Congratulations.鈥�

Throughout her career at P站视频, Hightower earned many honors. In addition to excelling in her studies鈥攅videnced by securing two gold medals at the statewide Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) leadership conference鈥攕he was highly active in campus life. She served as Vice President and Parliamentarian of the Campus Coalition Government (CCG); served as a Board Member with the P站视频 Collegiate DECA and HOSA chapters; participated in the P站视频 Emerging Leaders Program; served as peer mentor and educator in the Women of Color and Legacy Leaders programs; and welcomed prospective students as a Student Ambassador. Hightower earned leadership, service, and academic awards from Collegiate International DECA and was named CCG Representative of the Year (2017).

Hightower graduated from P站视频 in May 2019 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Healthcare Management. Staying focused on her educational goals, she immediately entered the Executive Master of Health Administration, Health/Healthcare Administration Management program at Florida Atlantic University, graduating in 2020. Before embarking on doctoral studies at Saybrook University, she returned to P站视频 for a Technical Certificate in Entrepreneurship in the Spring of 2021. Hightower expects to complete a Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Specialization in Integrative Wellness Coaching in 2025.

鈥淪abby has overcome a lot of adversity in her life, and against all those odds she managed to go on and get her Associate Degree, Bachelor's Degree, and Master's Degree and getting ready to go for her doctorate.鈥� shares Frank Watkins, P站视频 Vice President of Student Affairs, who presented Hightower with her award. 鈥淪he is someone who is dedicated to themselves, but at the same token, she is one of those individuals that would always give to other students as well.鈥�

Such accomplishment has truly come 鈥渁gainst the odds.鈥�

Hightower鈥檚 father passed away in 2016 after suffering a series of strokes. With four small children to care for, she and her husband began looking after her mother, a paraplegic with severe health issues.

In March 2017, Hightower鈥檚 husband went into sudden cardiac arrest and was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

After the passing of her husband, Hightower and her children moved into her mother鈥檚 home. In November 2018, a blaze destroyed that home. Thankfully, the family escaped unharmed. 

Sabby credits her P站视频 family with helping her stay the course. 鈥淲ith the loss of a couple of loved ones in my family, I needed the community of P站视频 to grab hold of my hand to keep me strong and motivated, and for that reason, I was able to prevail,鈥� she shares.

Her steadfast commitment to education, leadership, and volunteerism continues today. Hightower is Chair-elect of the LPC East Florida 2021/American College of Healthcare Executives; Corporate Compliance & FQHC Accreditation Leader for Treasure Coast Community Health; mentor to HOSA members and officers at P站视频; and is a Volunteer Caregiver Concierge at VNA of the Treasure Coast.

About the LeRoy Collins Award
The 28 colleges of the Florida College System (FCS) provide a bridge of opportunity for more than 21 million residents of the state to fully develop their talents and abilities, and alumni of the FCS impact lives daily and enrich the world around them. In 1990, the Florida Association of Community Colleges and the State Board of Community Colleges developed the Distinguished Community College Alumni Awards to recognize the many significant contributions of Florida鈥檚 community colleges and their graduates. The award is named after Governor LeRoy Collins to acknowledge his contributions to Florida鈥檚 community colleges.