Thank You North Dakota
On the Road with Bev Bell, Business Development Associate, WSLC
Bismarck, ND was the site of the RMASFAA fall 2002 Conference, October 13 through 16. Financial aid professionals from the eight-state association came together to share - information, friendship, support, our hopes and fears - professionally and oftentimes personally.
Assisting students and parents in realizing their academic goal is at the core of what we do and was the focus of our discussions. Evidenced at this conference was an undercurrent of something that spoke directly to the heart of WSLC - that education is important to the improvement of the individual and his/her life, but education is critical to the continued strength and success of our communities and our nation.
Although this is not new to WSLC and the financial aid community, it was heart warming to hear Mary Sommers, from the University of Nebraska, eloquently make this point at the RMASFAA Town Meeting. To paraphrase Mary: after WWII, the United States welcomed back the GI's, creating programs, including educational, to assist them into moving into jobs in the changing and growing post-war economy. The employment opportunities available as a result of higher levels of education enriched the pool of worker's skills, which led to a more aware and stronger society. Access to eduction for all became an important credo, and financial aid programs grew - the goal at the heart of the programs working towards the strengthening of the individual and as a result the nation. Is seems that at some point the focus shifted to a goal of education becoming a conduit for more money, status, fame, and excess for the individual - the improvement of the individual for the benefit and strengthening of the nation no longer even a consideration. "At a time we felt our security was at risk, we opted to invest in higher education to ensure we had an education citizenry - we saw this as 'homeland security.' Now is a similar situation, our security is at risk, it appears that it has not occurred to politicians or to policy makers to consider enhancing the higher education programs to the same end."
Again and again we agreed that as a nation we are at a crossroads. We have a vastness of talent and skills yet untapped. Education is the most effective instrument Available to cultivate and realize these resources, and we must be steadfast in making sure that from the most needy to the most wealthy, educational opportunity remains an attainable goal.
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