With a Degree in Hand, an SFSC Graduate Continues a Life in Service to Others

AVON PARK, Fla. – May 13, 2026 – Heather Drommerhausen graduated from South Florida State College (SFSC) on Tuesday, May 12 when she earned her Associate in Arts (A.A.). In fact, she was the student Commencement speaker for the 5:30 p.m. ceremony.

In her 63 years, she’s held many jobs, raised several children, and earned a number of specialized certificates; however, a college degree eluded her. After her mother’s passing, Drommerhausen applied to SFSC. Although she brought part of her journey to a close on Tuesday evening, she plans to continue a life that has been dedicated in service to others.

Drommerhausen was born in St. Paul, Minn. “We lived in 13 different places in 13 years of my school career,” she said. “I graduated from Westwood High School in Fort Pierce, Fla. My dad worked for Whirlpool at the Distribution Center. Then, he had his own appliance store and we finally settled down.”

In high school, Drommerhausen was a good student. In her senior year, she was presented The Golden Tassel Award for her writing, academics, and other outstanding achievements. The award came with a scholarship. “Back then, I wanted to become a journalist,” she said. “I loved to write anything I could get my hands on. I loved finding out about people. I’m nosy. I want to know you, things about you, bring your story to life. Writing was just me.”

Drommerhausen came from a family that expected and encouraged children to go to college. “My father graduated from college with a degree in Mathematics,” she said. “My mother majored in education. I don’t believe she finished her degree. But they both had been to college. It was a big thing. It was always a dream of mine to go to college.”

But when she was a teenager, her parents divorced and life at home went into chaos. “Because of the divorce, the money was not available for college,” she said. “My fiancé at the time (later my husband) was getting ready to go into the military and would be leaving the area soon. He had been my sweetheart in high school.”

Drommerhausen’s fiancé was headed into basic training and would get a new duty assignment that would take him away from the area. He asked Drommerhausen to marry him. “So, I had to table what I really wanted to do and make some decisions.”

They married and the military took them to Germany and Austria and to Newport News, Va. In the meantime, they had three children.

Although Drommerhausen didn’t attend college early on, she earned several certificates while living in Newport News. “I have lots of certificates in child care,” she said. “I was in the Citizens Police Academy and the Citizens Firefighter Academy. I worked with Civil Defense.”

She explained that the Citizen Police Academy ran for 20 weeks and included practice on the firing range. “You go behind the scenes and learn what the police do and how they do it,” she said. “You’re the support element and outreach. If someone was missing, I did the tracking through the Sheriff’s Department and victims’ assistance. Oftentimes, people were more likely to be willing to speak to me, because I wasn’t uniform.” She participated with the Citizen Police Academy from 2018 until she moved to Florida in 2022.

Throughout her adult life, Drommerhausen worked with children. “I did daycare, Montessori-style in my home, because my husband was in the military,” she said. “It was a good career and it followed us everywhere. I worked with two special needs or medically challenged children to a regular population of four more, so six total, plus my own children.”

Drommerhausen and her husband also became foster parents. “We started off as respite parents, which meant that, someone needed backup or it was an emergency, the police just removed the children from the home and you watched them until they got placed with a permanent home.”

“I took on two young men, and the rest were all young ladies,” she said. “Some of them were at risk of being pregnant, some of them were suicidal. For some of them, things were so dysfunctional at home, they just needed direction and independent living skills. So that was my job and we did that for 22 years, and I loved it. Those children are my children. Once I get a child in my life, it’s my child. So, I have lots of children. I would say my children and those children are one of my inspirations for getting a degree and furthering my career.”

In 2016, Drommerhausen’s husband died. She, her mother, and her grandson moved to Sebring, Fla. in 2022. She has raised her grandson, Alexander, since he was 9 months old.

Her mother suffered from progressive Alzheimer’s dementia and passed away from breast cancer in January 2024. After she died, Drommerhausen turned to her sister and said, “I don’t have anybody other than Alexander to take care of anymore, and Alexander’s an adult.”

“Alexander has Asperger’s,” Drommerhausen said. “The best way to describe him is that he’s Sheldon from the ‘Big Bang Theory.’ He’s very self-sufficient, very independent, but it’s Groundhog Day — everything has to be the same.”

Drommerhausen’s daughter, RoseMarie, earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Teacher Education (BSETE) from SFSC in May 2024. Drommerhausen said, “I couldn’t believe my daughter was going to graduate college. This will be three out of my four children that have college degrees. I’m so proud of her. Then I thought, ‘Wait a minute, maybe I could go to college, but I don’t have any money.’”

RoseMarie suggested they see if her mother would qualify for financial aid. “There’s FAFSA as well as other financial aid that’s available,” Drommerhausen said. “I started classes at SFSC in fall 2024.”

RoseMarie works at Crane Brook Academics, a private school in Lake Placid. She teaches 15 fourth, fifth, and sixth-grade neurodiverse students in the classroom.

Neurodiverse children may have autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, or sensory processing issues. They often show strength in creativity and innovation but may face challenges with social skills, emotional regulation, and sensory input. People who are committed to working with neurodiverse children support them by accepting and celebrating them.

“I graduate this year with my Associate in Arts, then I hope to graduate with a bachelor’s in Elementary Teacher Education from SFSC in two more years,” Drommerhausen said. “I want to be a teacher — to work with neurodiverse, hard to reach, or children that need a little extra, a little boost.

“I want to work with children with attention deficit disorder, children with dysgraphia,” she said. “Perhaps, those like Alex who have Asperger’s, maybe on the autism spectrum. People call them the square peg that doesn’t fit in the round hole. But I found in my life that with children, with anybody, we’re not perfect. So, how are we going to find what you do so well, what makes you so special, and how to get you to excel? Everybody has a little switch in there that turns the light on, that gets them on track. So those are the students I want to reach. I’ve met with Dr. Maday Leon (lead instructor of SFSC’s BSETE program) and Michelle Devane (Education professor). I’m on track to go ahead and start with the program in fall 2026.”

Drommerhausen encourages other older adults to continue learning. “One of the things that was sad working with my mom and a couple other Alzheimer’s dementia patients was that most of them had just retired. They withdrew, and sadly, they progressed with Alzheimer’s dementia. The mind needs to be exercised. If you don’t want to come to college for the education, come to keep your mind active. There are plenty of electives that are offered that can inspire you. They keep you going, keep your mind growing, and keep you functioning. You’re learning something new and, at the same time, you’re doing something great, like creating art, watching and critiquing movies, or learning about literature. At SFSC, you fit in, no matter whether you’re a teenager that’s in high school doing dual enrollment all the way up to a senior.”

For anyone who has a dream and doesn’t know if they can ever make it a reality, Drommerhausen said, “Just realize that your dreams can come true. Keep promises to yourself, use patience, faith, reward, and you’ll get there. Keep on walking. Just keep on putting one foot in front of the other.”