May 12, 2026
How many of us have wished something in our lives would change? GRCC alumna Tara Huskey will tell you that wishing is not the answer.
“Nothing is going to change unless you challenge yourself,” Huskey said. Huskey graduated from GRCC in 2024 with an Associate of Arts in Pre-Exercise Science. She was also a TRIO participant, scholarship winner and successful transfer student, so she knows what she’s talking about.
“My dream is to be an athletic trainer for football, either at a D1 school or in the NFL,” Huskey said. “I wanted to attend the University of West Florida to finish my bachelor’s degree and get out of the cold weather!”
During her time at GRCC, she connected with Evan Macklin and the TRIO program. He was able to help Huskey formulate a plan.
“I had received a lot of aid coming to GRCC, so I wasn’t sure how to make the financial side work if I transferred to West Florida,” Huskey said. “Evan and I talked at length about how to accomplish this goal without accumulating a mountain of debt. Since out-of-state tuition in Florida was going to be three times more than in-state tuition, I faced the prospect of a gap year while I established residency.”
Through Macklin, Huskey found out about the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship. They worked on the application together, tying in Huskey’s passion for health with the Foundation’s pillars.
And miraculously, Huskey received one of the 60 coveted full-ride scholarships. That threw open the door of possibility, but also of change.
Learning to Thrive in a New Community
“I know people say this all the time, but that scholarship literally changed my life,” Huskey said. “I could move to Florida and attend the school of my choice with zero financial worry. The scholarship paid for my tuition, books, food, lodging and transportation. I could throw myself into learning without any financial pressure.”
That’s not to say the move has been easy.
“I picked up and moved 1,000 miles away from home with no family, no friends and no connections,” Huskey said. “It hasn’t been easy. In fact, there have been many times when it’s been downright lonely. I’ve had to adjust my mindset and accept the growing pains. This is a time in life where education comes first. I’ve had to step out of my comfort zone and I’ve been blessed with the resources to do it.”
Huskey will earn her Bachelor of Science in exercise science this spring. After that, she will move to Tampa to attend the University of South Florida and earn a master’s degree in athletic training. Huskey applied for and received a Cooke Graduate Scholarship to fund this portion of her education as well.
Building On the GRCC Foundation
Huskey says that GRCC helped prepare her for future education and a career in significant ways.
“I participated in a lot of organizations and activities at GRCC, which was good practice for me,” Huskey said. “I helped create clubs, got involved in student government, and joined the honors program. I was able to leverage that experience when I moved to Florida. It’s harder to get involved in a larger university, but my experience at GRCC helped me build connections more quickly.”
Huskey also spent seven weeks in the Upper Peninsula during her time at GRCC. As part of the Michigan College/University Partnership Program (MiCUP), she engaged in a research project related to her chosen field of study.
“Working with other students on the campus of Michigan Tech, I was able to analyze the deep tendon reflexes of athletes as compared to non-athletes,” Huskey said. “Although I don’t plan to do research myself, I am working in what is very much an evidence-based field. Learning how research is done was extremely valuable. That seven weeks away from home also allowed me to build some skills for living on my own, which I have had to use here in Florida.”
Future Dreams
Huskey says that for her, being an athletic trainer represents a lifetime of opportunity.
“Athletic trainers are both preventive and reactive,” Huskey said. “We spend a lot of time working with the coaches, incorporating nutrition, exercise programs, stretching and more to help athletes reach peak performance. We’re also the first people on the field when there’s an injury. As a woman who hopes to break into a men’s sport, I want to excel. This scholarship allows me to focus on learning everything I can soak up in order to be the best I can be.”
Through all of it, Huskey has embraced the need for continuous growth.
“In my field, we talk about the fact that the body doesn’t adapt unless it’s through force,” Huskey said. “Getting out of my comfort zone, first at GRCC and now at UWF, has forced me to grow. I’ve had an impact on campus. I’ve learned how to reframe loneliness as solitude, enjoying the silence and taking time to decompress. Through all of it, I have learned to become independent. I am blessed and grateful.”
This story was reported by Julie Hordyk.