Candie Lynn Solis

PROFILE: “Outrunning my fear” is how Candie Solis describes her two years at Lee College. Not that she was fearful at age 37 of attending college for the first time. It was the dreaded fear of a lack of finances that was the problem; the fear of running out of tuition money. The former real estate agent and mortgage loan officer was a victim of the recession. Since her self-employment activities were dwindling, Candie rolled up her sleeves and treated her class work as if it was her job. Each semester she focused on being the best student and having the greatest college experience possible, just in case finances would prevent her from attending the following semester. All the while she searched for additional scholarship opportunities, which in itself was a part-time job. “Through this process I just kept reaching higher and higher. Sometimes I had to borrow the courage from others who believed in me more than I did, but it always worked out.” When the dust cleared two years after beginning her adventure, Candie stood at the top of her class with a perfect 4.0 GPA, and a business degree in hand. Thanks to her persistence and some timely scholarships, she outran her fear in the college tuition marathon.

INSPIRATION: Every college should have professors like John Britt and Kathleen Sydnor, Candie’s mentors at Lee. The pair, she said, should take at least partial responsibility for her success. “Mr. Britt and Ms. Sydnor convinced me that possibilities truly are endless, if you are willing to go the distance. I am grateful for the opportunity to study with them!”

ASPIRATION: Having almost 20 years of experience in various businesses, Candie eventually hopes to get her M.B.A. and combine her real world experience with the knowledge she will gain in the classroom.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Candie is the first member of her family to receive a college degree, let alone graduate with honors. She said it feels “great” to have her family behind her every step of the way “and to show my nieces and nephews what life after high school is supposed to be like.” But even more than that, “I am proud of the person I have become and the kind of student who offers inspiration to others who may believe that their opportunity for education has passed.”

ACCOLADES: Candie earned inclusion on the 2010 All-Texas All Academic Team and in 2009, was named “Most Representative Student” of Lee College (the highest honor awarded by Lee College) leading to her induction into the Lee College Hall of Fame. Also in 2009 she was named Student of the Year for American studies, economics, and accounting, the only time in Lee College history that one student has received this distinction in three different academic disciplines.

INTERESTING FACT: Candie and her sister, Sandie, are "mirrored image twins," meaning they are identical but have physical features opposite of each other as if when they face each other they are a reflection of the other. Candie is right-handed and Sandie is left-handed. Candie has a dimple on her right cheek and Sandie has one on her left cheek.