Page 19 - Work Force May 2022

Fulton cafeteria workers earning degrees with free college benefit
EE COLLEGE BENEF
FULTON — Using their union memberships to the fullest, three Fulton City School District Cafeteria Unit co-workers are close to earning their associate degrees through the AFSCME Free College Benefit.
The AFSCME Free College Benefit, offered in partnership with several schools, offers active and retiree members and their eligible family members a chance to earn a college degree online from anywhere in the country at no out-of-pocket cost to members.
“It’s all very easy,” Fulton City School District Cafeteria Unit President Jamie
Wardhaugh said. “All
you have to do is apply and then you go through FAFSA to see if you’re eligible for any financial aid. You’re able to pick the times, classes and everything.”
‘I wanted to better myself’ Wardhaugh said
the decision to try
the program was
a no-brainer. The onlythingstandinginthewaywas herself.
“I wanted to better myself,” she said. “I didn’t like school when I was in school, but it worked out well. I’m one class away from my degree and was able to get a promotion because of it.”
And Wardhaugh isn’t the only unit member taking advantage of this amazing member-only benefit. Rachel Muth and Jennifer Fancett are on the verge of earning degrees of their own, and they all plan on pursuing bachelor’s degrees.
“I had been working on my degree for a while and stopped
May 2022
because life happens,” Jennifer Fancett said. “But because of this opportunity, it was a great way to finish out and earn my degree. I was excited when I learned about the program, and my daughter will be using it, too.”
Fancett said her daughter plans
to take a gap year after graduation.
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By using the AFSCME Free College
Benefit, she’ll be able to save a lot
of money and gain skills to make the
transition to the traditional college For
experience a little easier.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for
her to get used to how classes are, the pace of college,
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FR
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Jennifer Fancett are earning their college degrees through the AFSCME Free College Benefit.
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management skills,”
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