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Seniors’ volunteer hours produce tuition waiver
Volunteer seniors can earn tuition waiver
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
The Mahoning Valley is the testing ground for a new program that allows senior citizens to earn free college tuition for volunteer hours.
Give Back, Go Forward was announced Monday at a news conference in Youngstown State University’s Tod Hall.
Individuals who are at least 60 and volunteer at least 100 hours per year at United Way Success By six, United Way Success After Six or Inspiring Minds will earn a three-credit tuition waiver at either YSU or Eastern Gateway Community College.
“This is a pilot,” said Chancellor John Carey of the Ohio Department of Higher Education. “Hopefully, eventually this will be a statewide program.”
He said the program is supported by Gov. John Kasich.
Carey said the Valley was chosen for the pilot because it’s such a tight-knit community with good relationships among the university and college and nonprofit groups.
“We wanted to start it in a place where it would be a success,” the chancellor said.
Elsie Dursi of Youngstown is one of three volunteers who signed up Monday morning to participate. She expects to volunteer at Youngstown Community School with Success After Six, another pilot program.
She plans to give the three-credit-hour tuition waiver to a friend.
“I have a dear friend who will be an incoming freshman” at YSU, Dursi said. “She needs all the financial help she can get. She plans to be a teacher.”
Dursi’s deciding to volunteer with the pilot program had a lot to do with the timing of its announcement.
She retired in May as a social worker and knew she wanted to do something with her time. She wanted to take the summer off first, though.
Bonnie Burman, director of the Ohio Department of Aging, said the program is a recognition of people 60 and older having much to offer.
“Elders grew up in a time when soft skills were really important,” she said.
Jim Tressel, YSU president, said the program has been in development for a long time.
Bob Hannon, president of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, said the senior volunteers can help with tutoring, work as chaperones or be mentors.
“We’re hoping that they find it so rewarding that they want to continue” after earning the tuition waiver, he said.
Tom Humphries, president and CEO of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and a member of the Ohio Board of Regents, said the program will allow Valley residents to share what they know.
“It’s being tried here because we know we can make it work,” he said.
Information is available at www.ohiohighered.org/gbgf.