Students in need of financial and career advice find assistance
By Jay Pham
Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Student Job Services (SJS) offers scholarships, résumé help, mock interviews, job fairs, hiring events, work-study positions and more.
The main requirement to receive these services is that students must be enrolled in degree-specific paths.
“If they’re an AS student, or a vocational student, college credit certificate, or if they’re alumni, they’re welcome to come in here, and we will provide services to all of those students,” Director Deborah Hooks said.
The first step for students is to take the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) test. It’s like the PERT for traditional fouryear students.
For those starting their CTE journey, the department has specialists, Sidney Smart and Patrice M. Friant, available to assist. “They work with students to make sure they make their TABE requirements,” Hooks said. “They also advise students.”
The financial assistance comes from the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education grant, which is funded by Florida’s Department of Education. “We usually receive $50,000 a year with the Perkins grant and we divide it among the semesters,” Hooks said.
The scholarship application can be found via the Pensacola State College (PSC) website under the tuition and aid tab, then scholarship. The algorithm filters out what you’re eligible for. Those that meet the requirements are sent to Hooks.
“I sometimes have from 400-800 students’ scholarship application to look through. I read through each and everyone of them,” Hooks said.
“We have performance improvement measures we have to meet. We try to assist students who are non-traditional, like male nurses and female welders.”
Students lacking financial support, first-generation Americans, English as a second language (ESL) individuals, and students coming from single family homes are given priority.
Students are eligible for tuition reimbursement and textbook scholarships as well.
Nursing students, Cybersecurity students, and others who pass their certification tests can be reimbursed for their testing fees. Students who fail the test do not get reimbursed.
To receive textbook assistance, students should contact Kayla Stanley, the coordinator of the department. Make sure to bring proof of Pell eligibility, class schedule, and fill out the CTE form.
Upon graduation and completion of certification tests, the department will continue to have services available for alumni. “We would still help them, even if they’ve been out of the workforce for a couple years,” Hooks said.
“A lot of our students are not aware that we have these services to assist them. Sometimes we pay their whole tuition.”
If students are interested and want more information, contact Kayla Stanley at (850)484-2116 or email kstanley@ pensacolastate.edu. Students can also stop by building