Change Can Be Cool
by Charlotte Skipper
When Scott Moist came to Central Florida in 1997 after three years in the military, he was a blank slate. Scott’s family had left his former home in Maryland, and he found himself wondering what the rest of his life would look like.
“I had to recreate my life again, because the military was my life, and then I had to start over from nothing,” says Scott. “Three years of being in the military quickly turned to ‘Okay, what am I going to do with my life now?’”
That’s when Scott found his way into the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning/Refrigeration program at Seminole State College (then called Seminole Community College), where he set off on a new path. Now, nearly 27 years later, he’s the face of Scott’s Heating & Air Conditioning – a successful, homegrown HVAC service company that Scott started in 2011.
Trucks bearing a cartoon rendering of Scott’s face can be seen all around town, with 32 employees dedicated to keeping residents and businesses cool in the sweltering Florida heat.
Hands-On Training Is Key
Many believe that the goal after graduating from high school should be to earn a degree at a four-year college. But for individuals who may not excel in traditional higher education settings, this course of action can feel discouraging from the start. That is why Scott says providing career-readiness for everyone – including more hands-on learning – is essential and allows our community to grow in a more diverse way.
“There’s a huge segment of the population that aren’t book kids. They’re work-with-their-hands kids, and they’re being told that they only have one path in life – that it’s college or bust,” says Scott. “It’s really exciting that [Seminole State] sees the potential in everyone, because a lot of times people aren’t putting attention and work into these developing trades.”
Seminole State Raider blood has run in Scott’s family for several generations. His father was part of the first graduating class of Seminole State in 1968 (back when it was called Seminole Junior College), and Scott’s daughters have both taken dual enrollment courses, beginning their college careers even before graduating high school.
Building a Strong Foundation
Kristy Moist, Scott’s wife, also has strong ties to Seminole State. She is the immediate past chair for the Foundation for Seminole State College, which raises funds annually to award to students, faculty, and staff. Kristy says supporting local education is instrumental in creating happier residents, more successful businesses, and a stronger community overall.
“We’re huge supporters of education, and we believe that strong schools make strong communities,” says Kristy. “Those strong communities then have great home values where people want to live, and we want to work and live in a place with strong community-mindedness.”
Although the idea of starting one’s life over can be daunting, Scott believes being successful in a new endeavor is possible for anyone – whether you’re a high school student about to graduate or 10 years into a career that no longer makes you happy.
“Embrace change. Be excited about the unknown and the next journey,” says Scott. “It’s exhilarating and exciting – starting over again. Many people start over once, twice, or even three times in their lifetime, and I actually enjoyed it when it happened for me. Don’t be afraid of it.”
Know a Seminole State alum we should feature? Email Alumni@SeminoleState.edu to tell us about them!