One Text, One Sign: How the Houston Reconnect Scholarship brought Troi Perry back to HCC

Troi-Lyzette “Troi” Perry had mentally penciled in 2027 as the year she might finally return to college. Then one evening, her phone buzzed. It was a text from Houston City College (HCC) letting her know about the Houston Reconnect Scholarship. She almost ignored it.

“At first, I thought the message was spam,” Perry said, laughing. “Then I looked at it again, went to the HCC website to verify and learn more, and thought, ‘This must be a sign’.”

She filled out an application and decided it was worth a try.

“Once I got notice that I was selected to be a Houston Reconnect Scholarship recipient, I knew this was real,” Perry continued. “Learning this energized me to go back and finish what I started.”

What Perry started was in 2018—taking business classes at the Weekend College at HCC Central. She was just one class shy of earning her associate degree when she had to pause her studies to care for ill family members. Over the years that followed, Perry built a career in Houston’s healthcare sector, eventually landing at Houston Methodist, where today she is a Senior Administrative Assistant in the Corporate Spiritual Care and Values Integration Department.

Still, earning a degree was always in the back of her mind.

In January 2026, Perry enrolled in the Global Online College, taking economics—the one class she needed to cross the finish line toward her associate degree. But after years away from school, Perry had to get back into the rhythm of being a student again and carve out time for studying alongside her full-time job and importantly, herself.

“I’ve come up with a good plan,” she said. “The structure brought something else back with it: a newfound confidence.”

When asked about her experience with the Global Online College, Perry doesn’t hesitate to share her thoughts.

“I will speak from the mountaintops about HCC,” she said. “It’s flexible and convenient for people working full-time jobs with so many other things going on. You have a college that works with your schedule, and you can complete a degree.”

As spring commencement approaches, Perry can’t wait to walk across that graduation stage.

“My advice to people who are thinking about coming back to school is to push through the uncertainty. When we take the steps to investigate, ask questions, and enroll, you will find out it’s not so bad. Don’t get discouraged. It’s okay to start over. You have the support here. If you have a dream or a goal, HCC is here to help guide you on your journey.”

Let Troi Perry be the nudge you needed. Apply for the Houston Reconnect Scholarship at hccs.edu/reconnect.