Centura College Graduate Spotlight – Tracy Peloquin

By Cheryl Landreth, CVAB

After working in the financial services industry for many years, Tracy Peloquin found herself suddenly out of a job and relocated to a state that didn’t offer the types of financial career options she had in her previous home state.  Tracy had often worked in food service and as a temporary employee in the past and once again found herself back into those types of jobs.

“When I reached my 50th birthday, I took a look at where I was in my life, what I had started and what I had not accomplished,” Peloquin stated. “Each day on my way to yet another temporary job, I passed by Centura College. I saw students outside and often wished I was one of them.”

In 2016 Tracy found herself laid off again and decided enough was enough. She went to Opportunity Inc. to see what options would be available to a middle-aged woman who had been displaced from her previous career.  To her surprise and joy, there was a grant available to help with the cost of college.  Her next stop was Centura College.

For the next year and a half, Tracy worked full time and attended school full time. Reflecting on that time, Tracy stated, “I really wanted to do my best at both.  Whenever you would see me, I would either have a book in my hand or I would be working on homework.”  Many late nights later, Tracy graduated summa cum laude with a 3.85 grade point average and a Bachelor of Science in Business with a Concentration in Management degree.  Tracy exclaimed, “I felt so accomplished!”

Tracy knows this is only the first important step in achieving her dream to someday run her own business of helping low-income seniors with housing. She is currently working at Canon and advancing in her career.  Her next step is to enroll in a Master’s program pursuing additional business and human resource training.

Moving forward on her journey, Tracy states “Had I never made that stop to Centura College, where I felt a peace as soon as I walked through the door, I would not have a plan for my future.  I know where I am heading with my life and I am so thankful for the opportunity to attend Centura College.  The instructors were great and offered additional assistance whenever I needed it.  They taught me so much more than just the book material.  I was able to gain practical application experience which helped me to fully understand the purpose of what was being taught.”