Blessed to Be a Blessing to Others

Ms. Holly Barrios-Gayman, a Waukegan, Illinois native, completed her education at Waukegan High School before pursuing an associates degree in Horticulture at the College of Lake County. She then advanced to Southern Illinois University (SIU), where she earned a bachelor’s of science degree and post graduate work in plant and soil science. As part of her post-graduate work at SIU, she developed computer and coding skills needed for data research and analysis. After graduating SIU, while working for Baxter Travenol, that coding and computer experience was instrumental and put her at the forefront of the company’s efforts to automate pharmaceutical systems. Following this, her technological career advanced to Software Development Project Manager/Program Manager for Earthlink and other global technology companies where she led teams engaged in enterprise computing, the creation of web platforms and ecommerce.

Upon retiring, propelled by her accomplished career, Holly sought to impact the lives of others and established the Holly Barrios-Gayman Scholarship at CLC Foundation, aiming to assist financially disadvantaged students from Lake County pursuing their education at CLC.

When asked why she supports education and the College of Lake County she said. “If you are in your twenties and are not from a family of wealth, it may be difficult to provide for yourself and your family, buy a car or a house, or raise children. As a woman of faith, I have always been a cheerful giver. This value was always stressed by my family and I was taught that we are blessed to be a blessing to others. I am thankful for the opportunities I have been given and want to provide those opportunities to others if I can.”

She continued, “Education is the foundation from which people build the confidence and the skills to strive for the American dream. A solid education provides them with the skills to enter today’s new economy, regardless if they are a college student straight out of high school, a laid off worker looking to retrain, or a single mother after a divorce.”

The CLC Foundation thanks Holly for her generous giving and philanthropic vision.