Last month, QCC students Alyssa Corazzini, Isabella Corazzini, and Vijay Kesavan and Special Assistant to the President for Engagement & Initiatives Jess Ahrens Montecalvo, went to Washington, DC to advocate for higher education funding. They joined students and staff from other colleges and universities across Central Massachusetts, including Worcester Polytechnic Institute and UMass Chan Medical School, to speak in support of federal student aid programs such as Pell Grants, Federal Work-Study, and Federal Subsidized Loans.
The trip was an opportunity for students to use their voice and represent their college community. Isabella noted that at QCC, she has met people from all walks of life and seeing their "complexity and intersectionality" gave her the confidence to speak up and advocate for her classmates in Washington.
"The most vulnerable people aren't getting the resources they need," Isabella commented. "Our students are being brave. We need our legislators to go and do the same thing."
Vijay, who is studying engineering but has an interest in public policy and advocacy, shared a similar sentiment.
"It was a great experience, especially meeting people from other colleges and different educational backgrounds. We worked together and bonded over this shared experience," Vijay said.
As a former work-study student, Vijay had insight into the Federal Work-Study program at QCC, which he described as beneficial to both students and the community at large, citing the work-study students who help in the HomePlate Food Pantry & Resource Center or the Phi Theta Kappa Community Closet project that supported unhoused people in Worcester.
"A lot of people don't have family who can afford to pay for the full cost of college. And it's not only the cost of college, it's living expenses. When these programs are cut, you're not just disrupting their education, you're disrupting their lives," Vijay said.
Isabella could personally attest to the impact of federal programs after receiving aid during a difficult period of working full-time and struggling to find housing.
"I received a Pell Grant and it stabilized my life," she shared.
Isabella encouraged the QCC community to keep the momentum going, saying, "We have to do a lot more to stay activated and empowered."