Clock in; sit down; do homework. This is the image that pops into most people’s minds when they hear the term “Federal Work-Study.” Sitting behind a desk and doing mindless work is often what people imagine the daily routine of students receiving Federal Work-Study funds looks like. But, there is much more to work study than clocking in; sitting down; and doing homework.
Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a federally funded program that allows students with financial need to be employed part-time by on-campus departments or approved off-campus partners. The purpose of this program is to help students earn money to pay for their education.
Melissa Sobaszek is a sophomore Public Health major at SUNY Brockport and was hired at Strong West through the FWS program in September. Sobaszek was hired as a Supply Chain Specialist and has had a positive experience with the FWS program and with working for Strong West.
“I think that Federal Work Study is a very well-established program. I think it is so helpful for students who are lower income or come from lower income families to have a program like this especially since a lot of off-campus jobs are hard to get hired at. I think it’s very nice to see a college like Brockport come together with these outside businesses and help the minority group of lower income students get access to jobs,” Sobaszek said.
Strong West is the Brockport branch of Strong Memorial Hospital and the University of Rochester (U of R) Medicine. The medical center opened in 2013, providing medical care from UR Medicine health providers including the Ambulatory Surgery Center staff, Imaging, Labs and more.
Strong West began its partnership with SUNY Brockport three years ago and has been offering job opportunities to any SUNY Brockport student like Melissa who qualifies for FWS since.
Brianna Petricone is an Inventory Planning Coordinator for the Imaging department at Strong West. Petricone has been at Strong West for eight years and has been helping train students since the medical center began accepting FWS students as employees.
“With our job, we have so much stuff that we have to do during the day that we can’t break off and stock the carts for the nurses, and we can’t work the weekend because we’re already working five days straight,” Petricone said. “So, it kind of just helps in that sense. I love it. I mean, the students are such a great help. It helps me out for the weekends, and it helps the nurses out when we’re not available to help them. So, because we have so much to do on a daily basis, it just gives us a breather, in a sense.”
Petricone also said that while the program at Strong West is not exclusively open to healthcare-related students, it can be an immersive experience and provide opportunities for students who are interested in pursuing healthcare jobs out of college.
When working at Strong West through the FWS program, Sobaszek stated that students are expected to restock nurse’s carts in each room, check expiration dates on the items that go in the cart and restock med rooms throughout the week.
Initially, Sobaszek did not understand how the FWS program worked. When she learned how the program operated and how it could benefit her, she immediately started to apply for jobs.
“I was offered it my freshman year, but I didn’t know what it meant, and I thought that I was working to have the money I made taken off my tuition. I didn’t realize that it was an actual paycheck that you get to help you with whatever you are struggling with. So, I made a phone call to the financial aid department, and they explained to me,” Sobaszek said.
Sobaszek chose Strong West through an app called ‘Handshake’ where FWS programs can post job listings for students to apply. She chose to apply at Strong West to get hands-on experience in healthcare along with being able to move around and network with healthcare workers.
Along with the Supply Chain Specialist position, students working at Strong West through FWS that are interested in pursuing a healthcare career also have the opportunity to shadow nurses and explore the inner workings of the Emergency Department.
Jill Paladino is the Administrator at Strong West. As an Administrator, Paladino oversees the facility and supports the faculty to ensure patients receive quality care.
Paladino said the partnership between SUNY Brockport and Strong West is a win-win for students and the community.
“The program definitely benefits the community, it bridges kind of a connection and a partnership between U of R, Strong West and SUNY Brockport. It’s just like neighbors helping neighbors which is really nice like, we have a need, they have a need. How can we help each other? How can we help these students grow to be a part of the world and learn?” said Paladino.
Federal Work-Study is more than an easy opportunity for students to make money by doing the least amount of work. This program can open doors for students, provide opportunities to network, make connections and get them more involved in a career path that interests them. The program provides an experience that could change the course of a student’s life forever.
