Derisha Blocker enrolled in EFSC’s Organizational Management degree to pursue her dream of opening a business. But between being a mother and going to college, she found the prospect of working a full-time job stressful.
That’s when she discovered EFSC’s work-study program, a form of federal financial aid that is available to eligible students as part of their aid package.
“It changed my life,” said Derisha. “I was able to have a balanced work and student life. Doing the work-study to complement the schedule you have — it makes things a lot easier to manage.”
While completing her work-study at the Accounting Office on the Cocoa campus, Derisha discovered benefits that would extend to her future as well.
“It gives me the experience of what it would be like to work in the field, hands-on,” she commented. “It looks really good on your resume.”
Derisha is one of many students in the work-study program to praise its career-readiness benefits.
Work-study jobs are always part-time and include on-campus and off-campus options that allow students to earn up to $2,000 to $7,500 per year toward educational expenses. This income can also cover day-to-day expenses while in college such as food, transportation, and school supplies.
Tutors, for example, can complete their work-study at public schools, making $18 an hour, including the time spent traveling to off-campus locations.
Work-study money doesn’t impact the amount of students’ other aid, such as grants. Furthermore, it has no effect on reducing the next year’s aid package because work-study money is not part of the FAFSA’s income-equation.
Preparing Students for the Post-College World
“The opportunities provided by the work-study program can enhance a student’s career path,” commented Dr. Denise Scalzo, Executive Director of EFSC’s Collegewide Financial Aid. “Students gain valuable career-advancing experiences, develop skills applicable to any major, and receive the necessary preparation and support for the competitive job market. Participating in a work-study position enables students to gain practical work experience and build a strong foundation for their future careers. All eligible students should take advantage of it.”
Stefanie Kelley, who is enrolled in EFSC’s Help Desk Technician program, emphasized how much her work-study with EFSC’s IT department has prepared her for the profession.
“Students come up and ask me questions regarding programs — like about software and hardware. It’s gotten me more interested in wanting to help out and just with IT in general. There’s more of a customer service aspect.”
Daniel Garcia at the Academic Success Center dreams of becoming a software engineer specializing in artificial intelligence. Being a work-study student has benefited him financially and professionally.
“I get a lot of time doing things that I’ll be doing in the future. I’m tutoring people in math, and I’m going to be using math a lot as a future engineer. In the downtime, I can do homework, research, anything. It’s also a job, and I get paid to do it. It helps me supplement my income and further my goals academically.”
The program allows students to work up to 28 hours per week, and when that extensive time is on-campus, it has benefits.
“The best perk is knowing what’s going on at the campus,” said Derisha. “When you’re on campus all day, you know about all the student activities. That’s important for me.”
Expanding Students’ Professional Networks
For Stefanie, the work-study program has allowed her to connect with college leadership, faculty, and staff, leading to new, eye-opening experiences.
“I’ve gotten to meet a lot of different people and understand what they do while helping out the IT techs and other departments, like networking,” she said. “One time, I went to the graphics department and print shop. I learned how to shrink-wrap cards using a special machine. That was really interesting.”
Along with flexible hours that work around classes and exam schedules, the work-study program allows students to explore their interests and connect with others who share them. Stefanie encourages her peers to consider the possibilities by visiting the work-study website and browsing its available positions:
“See what’s available and if that appeals to you — helping out IT, at the library…. I’m working with IT. It’s fun overall. It’s something I like doing, being able to help people with their issues.”
For Daniel, the opportunity to meet others like him has been the highlight of the experience.
“The best part for me is the fact that I’m able to work with my colleagues here. I’m really big into math and wanted to be around peers who were similar to me, and I found that here. It’s been great.”
Applying for the Work-Study Program
Eligible EFSC students can apply for work-study positions through the Financial Aid Office’s online system. Review the details on the work-study webpage and follow the steps to check out open positions and apply online. Don’t miss out on work-study money as part of your aid package!
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