GCCC Alumni Spotlight: Trevor Strawhecker
[Garden City, KS] September 3, 2025 – When Trevor Strawhecker left his hometown of Liberal, Kansas in 1989, he set his sights on Garden City Community College (GCCC). His motivation was simple: to pursue both golf and higher education.
“Garden City provided me the opportunity to continue my golf career and my education,” Trevor recalled. “My resources at the time were very limited, so the scholarships and low cost of GCCC were the best option for me. I also appreciated the incredibly strong golf courses located in Garden City, with Buffalo Dunes and Southwind.”
During his time as a Broncbuster, Trevor says he gained much more than an education. The experience, he explained, helped him grow as a person. “Garden City helped me mature as a young man, student, and golfer. By living on my own and having real-world responsibilities and experiences, I had to grow up fast. It was an incredibly valuable two years. These stepping stones prepared me for the larger city and college environments I would attend after GCCC.”
Trevor graduated from GCCC in 1991 with an Associate in Applied Science degree, then transferred to the University of Kansas, where he earned a degree in Journalism in 1994. From there, he embarked on a successful career in the technology sector, working at some of the biggest names in the industry. Today, he serves as the Director and Head of Sales for Western States and Southern California at Google, based in Scottsdale, Arizona.
In his role, Trevor oversees an 11-state region for Google Cloud Enterprise. “My team of over 50 sales and sales engineers is responsible for helping our customers leverage cloud and artificial intelligence solutions to help them increase revenues and/or reduce costs,” he explained.
Even as his career has taken him across the country, Trevor has never forgotten where it all began, at Garden City Community College. “The roots I built in Garden City have helped me stay grounded as I’ve tasted some success in the business world,” he said. “I’ve also built lifelong friends and advisors with my prior golf coach and teammates.”
Trevor hopes today’s students will see the value of community college the way he did more than three decades ago. “I highly recommend you take advantage of all the things Garden City has to offer,” he said. “Community College has a certain stigma among some people, but don’t let that blur reality. College costs have skyrocketed, and if you don’t have the means to pay for it, the debt you will carry will negatively impact your finances for many years, potentially decades. I am proof that community college is a great option. While there, take the time to build relationships because they will last a lifetime.”
He also encourages students to embrace new opportunities whenever possible. “I’d also recommend you gain as many experiences as possible while at GCCC. Leverage as many opportunities as possible. Whether it’s studying abroad or doing an internship, these experiences will help you grow and improve your marketability for future education and/or job experiences.”
From golf courses in Garden City to the fast-paced world of global technology, Trevor’s journey demonstrates how a strong foundation at a community college can open doors to success at every stage of life.
Garden City Community College is proud to have played a part in Trevor’s path. Make a difference for future Busters by starting your own Endowed Scholarship through the GCCC President's Scholarship Initiative!
From HERE, you can go ANYWHERE.
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Garden City Community College exists to produce positive contributors to the economic and social well-being of society.