SCF LEGAL ASSISTING / PARALEGAL STUDIES PROGRAM
SCF Paralegal Program graduate overcomes obstacles to meet goal
By WHITNEY C . GLASER , Esq . Whitney Glaser Law
When Patricia “ Patti ”
Hogancamp graduated from the State College of Florida ( SCF ) in December 2020 , it was an achievement deserving of special recognition . Patti overcame many barriers , including significant financial and physical limitations , in her continuing pursuit of education . Through the years , she has never let any obstacle stop her from pursuing her dream of earning an associate ’ s degree in Legal Assisting / Paralegal Studies . Not even COVID-19 limitations stopped her from crossing the finish line , albeit in a van during the “ drive though ” graduation ceremony .
Prior to enrolling at SCF , Patti served our country as a nurse in the U . S . Air Force from 1985 through 1990 . Afterward she worked as an LPN . She had always been interested in the law and decided to return to school to become trained to work as a paralegal . She faced financial and time constraints to balance work and school , in addition to being a non-traditional student in terms of age . None of this discouraged her or slowed her down .
In 1997 , Patti enrolled at SCF . She took one course at a time , having to pay for each without any financial assistance . Patti decided to become a paralegal , with her ultimate goal of being able to be of assistance to attorneys and clients .
I first met Patti during the Spring 2013 semester when I had the pleasure of teaching her in the General Law course . As a student in the SCF program , Patti stood out for her interest in the subject matter , participation in class , and dedication to not only earning an A in the course , but more importantly , mastering the subject matter . We spoke often about how she could parlay her medical background with a paralegal education to work for a law firm handling personal injury and medical malpractice cases . Nurse paralegals are a vital asset to both plaintiff and defense firms that deal in reviewing and understanding medical records and terminology . I had no doubt that she was on track to become a successful paralegal . However , later that year her
Whitney C . Glaser , Esq . Whitney Glaser Law
Patricia “ Patti ” Hogancamp
mother had a heart attack . Patti delayed her education for a semester to take care of her . The next year , just as she was ready to return to SCF , Patti suffered a stroke which left her wheelchair bound and with difficulty writing and speaking . She spent the next few years recovering from her stroke . Her fierce determination to earn her degree kept her focused during that difficult time .
In the Fall 2018 semester , despite
requiring a wheelchair and having difficulty writing and speaking , Patti returned to SCF with the goal of completing her education . I was excited to have her as a student in the Civil Litigation I course that semester . She required assistance from a note taker , but otherwise persevered and excelled in the course . She participated in class discussions and asked questions despite the constant struggle with being understood by both me and her fellow students . Patti simply never gave up . She earned an A in the course and returned in Spring 2019 for Civil Litigation II , were she also earned an A . And let me be clear , she was graded based on the quality of her work , both written documents , quizzes , and other assignments . While it might have been tempting to grade her work more leniently , I never considered it . Patti does not want to be treated any differently and her work speaks for itself — she mastered the material and skills .
Patti never missed a class during those two semesters , even though she had to navigate public transportation from the ALF where she resides in Sarasota to the SCF campus in Bradenton . Each trip to campus required taking a bus from her home to the airport and then a second bus to campus . The return trip also required changing buses . Most impressive was that not only was she never absent , but she was never late to class .
One of the final courses that the paralegal students complete was an internship . With her mobility and verbal communication issues , it was a challenge to find a placement for Patti . Fortunately for me , I had opened my own law office and was able to have Patti work from home and assist me with pleadings and other documents . She also prepared numerous Power Points for textbooks that we use in the Paralegal Program .
During my 13 years of teaching in the SCF Legal Assisting / Paralegal Studies program I have never met a more dedicated and determined student . I was able to talk with her while she waited in line to graduate and she shared how proud she was of meeting her goal and that she most enjoyed being with the other graduates and sharing in the excitement of graduate day .
Patti now uses a speechgenerating devise that helps her communicate . She hopes to secure a part-time position with a local law firm to assist in any way possible . If any attorneys or law firms can use a dedicated paralegal to draft legal documents , correspondence , medical chronologies or other documents , please contact me at
whitney @ whitneyglaserlaw . com
The Docket · February 2021 13