Alumni & Friends

Alumni Spotlight - J.J. ('97) & Tracy ('96) Huckins

For J.J. '97 and Tracy '96 Huckin, living their dream was never a question.

"We both knew we would be where we are today," said J.J. "Maybe not specifically where, but that we would be happy and living and doing exactly what we wanted."

After graduation from Culver-Stockton College, Tracy completed her medical degree at the University of Health Services in Kansas City. A year later, J.J. took a job in sales with General Mills and was relocated to Evansville, Ind. However, after a couple of years in the cooperate world, J.J. questioned his future.

"I had a great job after college, but I didn't feel fulfilled," he said. I couldn't see myself being a sales rep for the rest of my life; not that there is anything wrong with that, I just wanted to do what made me happy. I decided to just simply do what it was my heart was telling me to do. So I did."

J.J. moved to Colorado to pursue a career in acting. He began working as an actor in the largest indoor restaurant, Casa Bonita, performing in skit shows. Between skits, he would perform in dive shows that would take place on a waterfall located in the restaurant.

In 2000, J.J. and Tracy moved to St. Louis and were married on May 28. J.J. continued with his acting, along with working in real estate. In St. Louis, J.J. was under contract with five agents in St. Louis, Chicago, Nashville and Kansas City and began appearing in plays, short films and commercials, including a national commercial for Levitra, which aired during the 2003 Super Bowl. Meanwhile, as J.J. appeared on stage, Tracy was completing her residency in internal medicine at St. Louis University. She then accepted a one-year position as chief resident and is board certified in internal medicine.

In June 2004, J.J. and Tracy moved from the Gateway City to the Big Apple. After living in New York City for more than a year, they couldn't be happier doing what they love.

"It feels great. My definition of success is being able to wake up and be excited about getting on with the day," said J.J.

Currently, J.J. is a full-time actor. When not taking acting classes at the Terry Schreiber Studio, he is starring in a number of films that have been picked up by film festivals, along with one, in which he plays the lead, coming out soon on Blockbuster titled Return in Red.

Tracy, too, continues doing work she enjoys. She is currently in her second year of subspecialty training in cardiology and works at the Beth Israel Medical Center and the Long Island College Hospital.

Though they love what they do and spend many hours doing what they do best, they still make time for things they find important, like spending time together.

"We both support each other and are confident that if we are happy doing what we love in life, then we will be able to love each other more," she said.

When not at work, the Huckins continue to stay very active. As each enjoys working out, Tracy spends her time doing yoga and running, while J.J. takes his workout to the basketball court. On the side, he also enjoys painting and photography.

J.J. recently had a coffee table book of black and white photography published titled Inspire, in which he dedicates to Tracy (a blurry close-up of her eye graces the cover). It contains photos of New York City and is available online at Amazon.com or it can be ordered from Barnes and Noble or Borders.

Together they have gone skydiving, ran the Chicago marathon, back-packed across Europe and scuba-dived in the Caribbean.

After Tracy completes her cardiology fellowship, the two have planned a world tour of six continents in six months. Their proposed journey will include scuba diving in cages with great white sharks off the coast of South Africa, sand surfing in Morocco and surfing in Australia. The Huckins have multiple excursions planned including tiger spotting in India, gorilla spotting in Kenya, taking the "iron rooster" from Shanghai to Moscow and rainforest excursions in Brazil. While on their wild adventure, the couple plans to give their time and skills as volunteers in Central America. Tracy will volunteer her talents as a physician and J.J. wants to build homes for the Habitat for Humanity.

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