Leza Harrison

Favorite Class: Optics/atomic and nuclear

What went through your mind on your first day as a student? It was like a little city filled with kids my own age.

Partner in crime and your favorite memory together: Pam Watts. Tie dying sheets to hang on our walls.

Your biggest moment of triumph: Making the ski team after learning to waterski.

Prank you can’t believe you got away with: Sneaking into the boys dorm rolled up in a rug over someone’s shoulder.

Lesson you learned as a student that you still value today: Hard work pays off.

Person you met at Rollins who you will always respect: Richard Dayton

Life Since Rollins: After college, I remained in Central Florida so I could continue to waterski. I took a job with NASA as an electrical engineer and worked at Kennedy Space Center for 26 years, then took an “early out” retirement. I worked the last Apollo launch and most of the shuttle program. It was a very exciting career. The only thing missing was a flight into space!

I have one lovely daughter who graduated from Florida Southern College in Lakeland.

My true passion then and now is still water skiing. I competed all over the world and made the U.S. water ski teams representing the United States at many international competitions. Still at it today with only one hip replacement so far. 2022 was a good year with Regional, National, and World Titles in my age division under my belt. My goals are to improve the national records that I hold in slalom and tricks!

Debra Holmes

Activities that kept you busy at Rollins: I was in the Rollins Singers. We performed often on campus and for alumni. We took a trip to Washington, DC and to New York to perform on behalf of the school. I was also in the chapel choir. My happiest memories and best friends came from the music department and the Rollins Singers.

If you could choose your major today, what would it be? Education and music –the same as originally.

What went through your mind on your first day as a student? After my parents drove away, I realized that I was totally on my own for the first time. I could stay up all night, choose my friends, etc. It was very empowering.

Lesson you learned as a student that you still value today: True friends can last a lifetime. If you respect one another, different backgrounds don’t matter.

Person you met at Rollins who you will always respect: Pam Hobbs was my first roommate. She was such an excellent athlete. She spent her junior year abroad in Switzerland playing for their national team. My second roommate, Holly Rogers, was among the first of our generation to show respect and offer friendship to our gay classmates.

Life Since Rollins: I would have never been able to attend Rollins had it not been for my academic scholarship. I arrived with plans to get a degree in elementary education. When I auditioned for the chapel choir, Dr. Ward Woodbury encouraged me to become a vocal music performance student. He enabled me to obtain two degrees at once. The music department professors were very patient with me despite the fact that I had no prior formal training in music.

It changed my life. My greatest joy and personal growth came from my experiences in the music program, especially with the Rollins Singers.

I went on to obtain a specialist degree, and spent my career in public education as a teacher and administrator.

After graduating, I continued to enjoy musical theater, directed a small church choir, and sang in some excellent community choirs. As a teacher, I led a number of student choirs and directed musical theater productions at school to share my love of music with my students. Later in life, I became the guardian of a wonderful little boy, who is now a student at Lander University, and a member of their soccer team.

I still have a wonderful phone friendship with my former roommate Holly Rogers, who keeps me up to date with Rollins and our mutual friends. I am proud to be a Rollins alum. I received an excellent education at Rollins, met terrific people, and am proud to read of their many achievements.