Students taking on more than classwork

Noah Curtis neatly stocks the shelves at the Lake of the Woods True Value Hardware.

His friendly face is the first to greet customers as they enter the store on the weekends.

Outside, the tall, slender teen even helps people load items into their vehicles.

Noah is a 19-year-old second-year student at Germanna Community College. His part-time job takes care of extras like gas, insurance and snack food.

“I work to help pay for the things that I want,” said the 2007 Culpeper County High School graduate. “If I don’t work, I don’t have a car or anything, so it’s not much of an option.”

His schedule is a full one, too.

In January, he’ll take on a full load with 18 credits five days a week at the Locust Grove campus and continue to work at his father’s hardware store Saturdays and Sundays.

Noah said he’s also signed up for a psychology class at Germanna’s Daniel Technology Center in Culpeper.

He’s working on a general studies associate’s degree and has plans to study computer networking at a four-year college.

Germanna spokesman Mike Zitz says it’s not uncommon to see college students working while attending classes.

“Younger students are working hard in and out of the classroom to help take pressure off their parents, who are either laid off or financially strapped.” Zitz said. “And older students are often trying to hang on at one job until they can learn skills that will make them marketable in tough times and provide a viable and lasting career.”

But neither of these circumstances are the case for Noah.

His parents, Paul and Cindy Curtis, don’t require him to work to help pay for tuition, they take care of that expense.

The maximum load for an in-state student at Germanna is 25 credits and estimated around $2,200 per semester for tuition only.

Paying for higher education

If finding a job proves difficult, there are alternate ways to help pay for college bills with financial aid and/or student loans.

Michael Farris, financial aid coordinator for Germanna, said the college has noticed a significant increase in financial aid applications within the last year.

“Most significant was the 80 percent increase in financial aid applications received in August (2008) compared with August (2007),” he said. “With an overall increase for 2008 at around 50 percent, Germanna’s numbers are above both the state and national averages.”

Statewide, the preliminary figures show that financial aid requests are up 29 percent between August 2007 and August 2008, according to Jeff Kraus, assistant vice chancellor for public affairs for the Virginia Community College System.

“People have dreams for both themselves and their children even when the economy is bleak and community colleges offer them an affordable way to pursue those dreams,” Kraus said. “Whether it’s the pathway to a two-year and four-year degree or the cutting-edge workforce training opportunities we provide, community colleges exist to meet those unmet needs and people are taking advantage of the opportunities we offer.”

Farris attributed the increase to two primary factors: the slowing national and local economies and Germanna’s ongoing efforts to reach out to students informing them about available options.

Earning extra bucks

For Noah, working isn’t anything new.

He started helping his father, who owns the True Value Hardware on Route 3, six years ago.

“That’s how I got here at the age of 12, I had the hook up,” Noah joked in between customers last Friday.

For some other students, it’s not an option to have a full-time job.

Culpeper resident Jason Fincham, 19, works about 32 hours a week at the 7-Eleven on James Madison Highway — just east of town.

Additionally, the 2007 CCHS graduate takes on a full load at Germanna, too.

“I manage to make time to do everything,” he said Saturday afternoon. “I have to save up for my next college.”

Jason has plans to study computer science at James Madison University in Harrisonburg next fall.

But for now, he’s working to help pay for his tuition, books at Germanna and bills at home.

“I don’t have too many bills of my own, but I am helping my mother out around the house,” said Jason, who started working at 7-Eleven more than four years ago.

For 18 credits, it costs Jason about $1,500 each semester to pay for tuition alone.

He manages to get by with students loans and his weekly wages.

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or rsimmons@starexponent.com.