Community News CARES Grants Help Hundreds of Students
When second-year Fashion programs major Kendra Kennedy ’20 received a check for $817 in May, she was filled with gratitude. “Thank you, God. Thank you, Harcum College,” she said. “I was able to get groceries and other necessities. COVID-19 really exposed for me how imperative it is to have a safety net, and Harcum provided that for me.” The money came from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security “CARES” Act. Harcum received over $1.7 million, with half the funds earmarked for students as emergency grants for expenses due to disrupted campus operations, and the other half for Harcum’s institutional needs. The Financial Aid office reported that 1,086 students qualified for grants. To date, more than 1,022 students received CARES funding. Animal Center Management student Josephine Klumpp said, “Receiving the check was a welcome relief.” Her mother primarily supports the household of five. Another family member has a compromised immune system. “Because of
this, I am unwilling to potentially expose him to COVID-19 by seeking a job at this time. The money has greatly helped keep us afloat in this situation.” A hands-on learner with projects to complete, Kennedy faced obstacles with online learning away from campus. She had relied on tools Harcum offered—the sewing machine, mannequins, and materials. “It was challenging to get ahold of those resources. Graduation was a few months away. I knew that I had to finish strong.” Kennedy and other fashion students stayed connected. “We often would send reminders and motivational texts to keep each other going.” Klumpp hopes to finish her degree when Harcum’s Bryn Mawr campus reopens this fall. Kennedy plans to continue her formal education and obtain a bachelor’s in Fashion/ Fashion Merchandising.
“I loved learning from my professors, up close and personal.” KENDRA KENNEDY ’20
KENDRA KENNEDY ’20, left, came to campus to celebrate her newly minted associate’s degree.
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SUMMER 2020
