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Stephen Michael Stigler

Biography

"My mother had always wanted an education for me because she felt it was the groundwork for any future. She made me promise that I would go back to school." Stephen Stigler loved reading "anything and everything," and his early years were full of positive reinforcement.

But he quit school at the age of 14, because his single mother fell ill and he needed to work to support the family. "I had a life rich in experience; I was able to work and support my mother, wife, son, and myself. Life was good until 1997, when I woke up in the intensive care unit. I had been feeling ill but thought I had the flu. I had been in a diabetic coma." In 1999, illness dealt Stephen another setback; his doctor told him to stop working.

Stephen's family lost their home and moved into the Lancaster Community Homeless Shelter. "One of my pet projects is to host a dinner at the same homeless shelter. I believe that you always give something back to your community to show your appreciation." Stephen, along with this fellow Alpha Iota Members (AGS Honor Society), purchases, cooks, and prepares much of the meal, and coordinates the volunteers to serve the dinner. His life took a new and positive turn in that shelter when a representative of Antelope Valley College hosted a workshop for the residents.

Stephen's excellent grades, diligence, and congeniality earned him the recognition and encouragement of advisors. He set new goals as a result of his experiences on campus. "This past year, I worked on campus in the STAR (Student Transition and Retention) Program as a peer mentor. One of my duties was to tutor students; this gave me a chance to see what it would be like to be an educator. It is a great feeling to be able to help someone succeed."

"We as a nation have to invest more in our children. We have to make school more appealing to students."

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