Holly Buchanan Managing Editor

Brandon Stogsdill exemplified, “possibilities created, possibilities realized,” during a Foundation breakfast at Pierce. Former student Stogsdill, shared how the education that Pierce College provided him, gave him power to persevere, even while being incarcerated. Pierce continues to be the place for a second chance at achieving one’s goals.

The Vice President of Pierce Foundation, Suzy Russell Hall summarized the breakfast as a way for people to, “learn something new and realize the impact we have for students of Lakewood and around the world.” An example of this impact is Stogsdill, who also spoke during this event. He shared his story of hardships as a child and young adult growing up with an alcoholic mother, who was in a mental institution by the time he reached the tenth grade. Stogsdill fantasized about suicide and got into numerous bloody fights during school. At the age of 16 he got a gun for protection, “it snowballed from there,” said Stogsdill. After a gun dispute, he was sentenced as an adult for four years in prison. “I entered prison with a ninth grade education,” Stogsdill said. After nearly 4 years fate gave Stogsdill a second chance.

At the age of 19 he was accepted into Pierce College and started taking classes while still incarcerated. Paula Henson-Williams, [Associate Director of Development], helped him along the way. He was able to get scholarships and complete his Associates Degree, making him the first in his family to attend and complete college. Stogsdill has published three books, one of which is a memoir titled, “The Boy with the Gun: From Incarceration to Higher Education. He has a Bachelor’s in psychology, a Master’s in clinical psychology and is completing a doctoral degree. With scholarships and the support he needed from Pierce’s faculty and staff, Stogsdill turned his life around and now helps others with theirs.

Pierce College is, “the largest institute in the South Sound area for higher education,” said Chancellor Michelle Johnson. Johnson also brought to the audience’s attention that Pierce has 26,000 students each year. 15,000 of which are active duty, soldiers, veterans and airmen and 1,000 of those students are juniors and seniors in high school. The youngest person to receive a diploma from Pierce College was 16 years old and the oldest was 76. “Together we can do this, we are the answer,” said Johnson. Pierce does not limit the opportunity to receive higher education to any person.