Local Law Firm Proudly Staffed by Gaston College Alumni
Stott, Hollowell, Windham & Stancil, PLLC, with offices in Gastonia and Mount Holly, is a standout example of the impact Gaston College’s Paralegal Technology program has on the local workforce. The firm is home to five program alumni: attorney Joy Chappell and paralegals Sara Parker, Paige Reel, Kimber Thomas, and Taylor Dillingham, highlighting the strong connection between Gaston College and the community it serves.
Joy Chappell, a 1997 graduate, credits her experience at Gaston College with laying the foundation for her legal career.
“The overall academic experience, the professionalism, the instructors, and top-tier academic environment were perfect for me,” Chappell said. “Gaston College gave me the confidence and academic and educational skill set to propel me to law school and beyond.”
Now a partner at the firm and a family law attorney for 17 years, Chappell works closely with Sara Parker, a 2017 graduate and current paralegal, who says she is proud to see the college consistently prepare students to enter the legal field and launch their careers near home.
“I think it’s cool that we have a growing number of people who came from Gaston that are actually working in the field we went to school for,” Parker said.
Paige Reel, a 2022 graduate, found that the hands-on learning at Gaston College directly applied to her day-to-day work as a paralegal. She appreciated how Gaston helped her ‘Own Her Momentum’ by providing a judgment-free environment and the support she needed to succeed throughout the four years it took to complete her associate degree.
“I would say the best experience I had was going to the library, looking at and researching the law books,” Reel said. “It really gave me hands-on learning and makes it way easier to take that skill and apply it to online searching in general.”
Support and encouragement from instructors and peers were common themes among the alumni. Paralegal Taylor Dillingham, who graduated in 2023, credits the program with helping her build lasting friendships and memories.
“I have met classmates and instructors who have encouraged me, supported me, and made even stressful days a little easier,” Dillingham said. “These relationships made my time at Gaston feel more personal.”
Today, Chappell, Parker, Reel, Thomas, and Dillingham work side by side at Stott, Hollowell, Windham & Stancil, bringing their unique perspectives and expertise to the firm.
“I think it’s neat that we all went to the same school and paralegal program, but we have each taken what we learned and applied it to completely different areas of the legal field,” Dillingham said.
