Emmanuel Students Advocate Financial Aid at the State House
March 01, 2009
On February 26th Emmanuel College students Christopher Flanagan '10 and Ashley Pacheco '10 joined Senior Assistant Director of Student Financial Services Vy Doan at the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts’ (AICUM) “Student Financial Aid Day,” held at the State House. The purpose of the event was to advance the advocacy of independent college’s on the importance of need-based financial aid, especially during these days of economic hardship.
The day began with welcome messages from Senator Harriet Chandler (D-Worcester), Representative Marie St. Fleur (D-Dorchester), and Representative Marty Walsh (D-Dorchester). Each of them encouraged the students to make the most of their visits at the State House and gave them tips on the best way to make their case for increased financial aid.
More than 125 participants, including students and financial aid professionals, personally visited nearly 60 legislative offices to thank legislators for their past support for need-based financial aid and to urge them to do more in this year’s budget.
After the welcome messages, students fanned out across the State House to visit legislative offices, dropping off thank you cards and delicious home baked cookies, compliments of the students at Newbury College’s culinary arts program.
The day provided Emmanuel’s Flanagan and Pacheco direct contact with their Representatives and Senators, as well as the Representatives of the College’s district, in order to stress how important it is to fund financial aid. It also allowed for legislatures to connect the face of a constituent from Emmanuel College to a line item in the budget, so that the issue of financial aid remains prominent as they designate the funds.
