At Cabrini College, 98 percent of students receive financial aid annually. Within their financial aid packages, many students receive a state grant to help pay for their college tuition.
Each year in April, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania hosts Study Lobby Day, where groups of students from all over the state gather at the Capitol building in Harrisburg to meet with representatives in order to lobby for increased state grant funding.
Cabrini College has been participating for the past few years in this lobbying and on Tuesday, April 12 of this year students Karina Dean, Elizabeth Ray, Treci Butler, Nasir Ransom, Anna Laquintano and Abul Jubaid attended with assistant director of financial aid Thor Kress and vice president of community development and external relations Brian Eury.
“A majority of Pennsylvania residents who attend Cabrini rely on state grant funding,” Kress said.
The group had meetings with representatives Warren Kampf, Tom Quigley and Jamie Santora and senators Tom McGarigle and Daylin Leach.
“It’s a really hectic, busy day at the Capitol,” Kress said. “It is very quick. You run in, you have these 10 to 15 minute meetings with these legislatures and basically you get your time in front of them to say ‘hey, I’m a potential voter, this is something that I think is important, I hope you will make it a priority.’”
“It was an enriching experience,” junior secondary education major Treci Butler said. “It is easy to think that since these people are congressmen that they are of higher class than us students, but they were very down to earth.”
This was the second time participating in Student Lobby Day for senior communications major Karina Dean and she was happy to be able to have an impact once again.
“I enjoy lobbying every time I have the opportunity,” Dean said. “It brings me nothing but joy and satisfaction to know my voice matters.”
Student Lobby Day is just one of many lobbying opportunities for students throughout Cabrini College, as many other trips occur throughout the year in order to voice make a difference and voice opinions.
“This is another valuable experience that I have Cabrini to thank for,” Butler said. “Had it not been for my Cabrini educational experience, I would not have been confident enough to attend this event.”
