Creative & innovative
Alumni Stories
Luke Bell
General Biology
Blackburn College

I began working at the age of thirteen to save for both my car and future education, fully aware that I would need to take out loans to support my studies. By the time I left for college, I had diligently saved while anticipating approximately $20,000 in student loans—a significant stressor for my family and me, but a necessary step toward pursuing my desired career path.
Since enrolling at Blackburn College, I have embraced a variety of roles and experiences, the most transformative being my current position as General Manager of our student led work program. This role has honed my abilities in problem-solving, conflict mediation, and professionalism. These experiences have highlighted my strengths in peer management and inspired my aspiration to pursue a Master's degree in Healthcare Administration, with a specific focus on policy development.
UNIFIED BY PURPOSE
OUR WORK COLLEGE MEMBERS
There are currently ten federally recognized Work Colleges, and nine are members of the Work Colleges Consortium. These institutions are small, private, liberal arts colleges with modest enrollments that range from about 150 to approximately 1,600 students. Each school is unique and operates the work program in a slightly different fashion. However, “work-learning-service” is a central component of each Work College. Student work, coupled with robust academics and a spirit of service, is the common denominator shared by all the Work Colleges.
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