When I was going to school, I knew how to read, write, add and subtract and I basically said, 'What else do I need? I'm never going to be able to go to college. I'm not going to be able to afford to go to college. I'm not going to be able to get a scholarship.'
--Mark Wahlberg
Colleges from all across the United States offer numerous scholarships so that their students can attend. Thousands of people around the world believe that they cannot afford college, so they simply refuse to go, “College costs continue to rise, and an Edward Jones survey finds that 83% of Americans say they cannot afford the expense of a college education” (Levaux). It is true that school is quite expensive; however, there are options. The people at Blue Mountain College who are behind trying to find every possible financial aid are Beverly Hickey and Brad Hill. They spend their time helping students so that they are able to attend Blue Mountain College with little to no worries about money.
Hickey and Hill both enjoy their job at Blue Mountain College. They both have been employed here for over ten years and brag on their boss, Lynn Gibson, for always making them feel appreciated. They also feel that they are appreciated by the students and even parents at Blue Mountain. When Hickey had cancer in 2018, many students prayed over her, which made her feel greatly appreciated. Hickey and Hill both have received letters from parents and students expressing their gratitude for helping them and their kids. Hickey says, “It also makes our day when students recognize us outside of our office, whether it be in the dining hall or even at Walmart or a restaurant.” To confirm how appreciative the students are to Hickey and Hill, Courtney Eaker states, “If it were not for the financial aid office, I would not be here at BMC. […] Without my scholarships, I would not be able to make it. It would have been a big chunk of change to pay out of pocket.”
When asking Hickey to describe a day in her life, this was the response:
“My day begins with the drive to work where I am planning my day in my head and praying for God’s guidance and to allow me to be focused and productive for the day. Once in the office the first hour or so is usually spent reading and answering emails. This can sometimes be the main job of the day! There is no typical day, we spend time pulling in FAFSAs, sending verification letters, processing FAFSAs, awarding students scholarships, grants, and loans, transferring all the financial aid, checking to make sure no one is over awarded, processing work study, balancing all financial aid accounts, reading updated material pertaining to state and federal financial aid, meeting with students who have questions about their financial aid, fielding phone calls from students and parents, BMC committee meetings, webinars, filling out surveys, engaging with new students and parents at scheduling days and basically trying to stay a step ahead.”
With these things being said, when you hear someone talking about needing help financially in college, send them to Hickey and Hill! They will not be disappointed!
Sources
Levaux, Janet. “83% Of Americans Say They Can't Afford College: Edward Jones Poll.” ThinkAdvisor, 13 May 2015, www.thinkadvisor.com/2015/05/13/83-of-americans-say-they-cant-afford-college-edward-jones-poll/.
