Tyrance Billingsley

Tyrance Billingsley knew he had a passion for politics. But it wasn’t until he worked on former Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor’s election campaign in 2013 that he learned he had a passion for Tulsa, too. So when it came time for the Booker T. Washington High School graduate to choose a college, Tyrance knew he wanted to stay right here at home.

“I saw how Tulsa has a cocktail of different people and opportunities,” he said. “I felt like I could capitalize on the wave of development by staying here and not going to Stillwater or Norman.”

Tyrance took advantage of his opportunities to grow at TCC. He serves as college-wide President of the Student Government Association at Metro Campus and is the first community college student to be elected Chair of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Student Advisory Board.

“Now I know I wasn’t mature enough to go right to a four-year school,” Tyrance said. "By coming to TCC I’ve had the opportunity to mature and grow.”

Tyrance is on track to graduate in May 2017 and plans to transfer to the University of Tulsa, although he is still considering other local schools.

”Regardless of where I go, I want to be able to come back here to have an impact on Tulsa,” he said. “I feel like I’d be missing out on great opportunities if Tulsa weren’t my home.”