Jay Sibbert received a scholarship from our alumni group in 2009. He wrote this letter to Howard on January 22, 2010.
Dear Mr. Howard Hickey,
I hope all is well in the Ocala area. To respond to your letter I should start by telling you that I am happily married, and my wife’s name is Siiri. We hope you received the Christmas card and picture we sent before our Christmas break.
About us: I am originally from North Carolina, and Siiri is originally from Germany. I have a brother and a sister, and so does my wife. I graduated from high school in 1997, joined the Army, and chose Germany as my duty station. I met Siiri in 2001, and we married April 4th 2004. Shortly after we moved back to the U.S. and went through college at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. We pretty much did it all through the GI Bill, on campus jobs, and scholarships. I double majored in Biomedical Chemistry and Biomedical Biology, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Siiri majored in Business, with tracks in Management and Marketing, and a minor in Psychology.
Once we graduated we moved to Ocala. Siiri took a position with Walgreens and I worked at the University of Florida’s Florida Center for Brain Tumor Research, in the Neurosurgery Department.
Siiri is now a graduate student through Nova Southeastern University getting her Masters in Mental Health Counseling. They have a program where they can do it all online since we have to be in Michigan for my schooling.
As far as clubs and activities, I’m in the Community Integrated Medicine Club at school. It’s a program where we go out to the community and render free medical care. I’m also currently in the Student Osteopathic Surgical Association and American Osteopathic Association.
To be honest, we're not sure when we’ll be back to Ocala to visit family. We’re a “year-round” school and the few breaks we have usually coincide with some mandatory clinical rotation. We are considering May, but haven’t made definite plans as of yet.
Again, thank you for choosing me for such an honor. Go Spartans!!
Very truly yours,
James C. Sibbert