Many of us have big dreams that may seem out of reach. it’s like we see can where we want to be yet are unsure of how to get there. That’s normal! Often, the best way to achieve big things is to take a smaller first step. Those of us living in or around the Louisville Metro area have the advantage of some of the best educational and employment opportunities in the country, surefire ways to jumpstart anyone’s journey towards achieving their dreams. UPS, one of Louisville’s largest employers and community partners, is teaming up with Louisville area high schools, Jefferson Community & Technical College and the University of Louisville to offer motivated students the educational and employment opportunity of a lifetime. Along with providing gainful employment at UPS Worldport in Louisville with opportunity for advancement, UPS offers 3 programs to help students in different stages of their educational journey. These programs truly are designed to give students like you a leg-up in reaching your educational and professional goals. Answer the questions below to See which of the UPS educational programs may be for you. Are you a high school senior looking to get ahead while making money? Then check out UPS’ School to Work Program. Are you a college student who needs to work part-time and could use tuition assistance? Then the UPS’ Earn and Learn Program may be for you. I If your goal is to work in the medical field, but need financial assistance to attend college, then the Norton Pathways Program is the opportunity you’ve been looking for. UPS wants you to succeed. To maximize your potential after finding which program is right for you, watch the UPS Advancement Roundtable featuring real employees and how they used programs like Earn and Learn and School to Work to not only find successful careers at UPS, but continued opportunity in the future. School to Work The UPS School to Work program is designed for the motivated high school senior looking to put their afternoons to good use. The program offers student the chance to work after lunch on school days at UPS Worldport. Students gain real-world work experience, confidence, earn a competitive wage, plus high school elective credits. And that’s not all. Students in the School to Work program have the opportunity enroll in a Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC) course, paid for by UPS, taught on site by real professors. These general education college courses often transfer to post-secondary institutions and include English 101,English 102, Algebra, Basic Public Speaking, Business, and Humanities. “It feels like I’m already in college, like I’m finally growing up,” says high schooler Mason Ford. “You get out of class early, come to work, earn money and take a college class for college credit.” UPS provides students with daily transportation to their job at the Worldport Hub. Fellow School to Work participant, Denacia Davis, says she enjoys the social aspect and camaraderie of working with her fellow employees— “I get along with everyone in my work area,” Denacia smiles when asked about it—but she also finds the college aspect rewarding. After she clocks out of work, a shuttle takes her to the UPS Training and Education Center where Denacia is taking a college course on Public Speaking. “It definitely feels like college,” she says, “because they’re treating you like an adult.” The job is not just a way for high school students to learn what it’s like in the workforce, but a chance to begin building a career with UPS, one that will continue to reward them not only financially, but educationally, as they transition to higher education. UPS offers multiple college programs that can help students graduate with little to no college debt, all while earning a living. Learn more about School to Work and take advantage of this unique opportunity to start your educational and employment career. Earn and Learn Working while going to school is a reality for many college students. UPS understands. The Earn and Learn program is designed for the college student who needs a weekly paycheck working a job that revolves around their school schedule. To sweeten the deal, participating UPS employees in the Earn and Learn program receive assistance up to a total of $5,250 per calendar year for college tuition, books, and fees, with a lifetime maximum of $25,000. “Without the Earn and Learn Program I would not have my Master’s Degree,” says Ashley Mandel, a 16-year UPS veteran and current Talent Acquisition Specialist for the company. She knew she wanted to get her Master’s but was afraid of racking up the amount of debt she’d accumulated during her undergrad years before she was a UPS employee. “For those looking to go to school, the best benefit of being a UPSer is you can potentially graduate debt free.” Through the Earn and Learn program, you can pursue your education at your speed, even if it’s just one course at a time. As long as you remain employed by UPS, UPS will pay for your classes. “You can go to college for anything you want,” explains Ashley, “if you want to get into photography, art, business, as long as you attend any approved post-secondary institution, it’s a great opportunity for you to come work for UPS, make a lot of friends, get a weekly paycheck and have your tuition paid for.” As you earn your degree, you’ll be given plenty of career advancement opportunities at UPS, who use programs like Earn and Learn to help recruit, train and retain the future workforce at UPS Worldport. For those looking for a fulfilling career and way to start your post-college life free from the burden of student debt, the Earn and Learn Program is for you. Norton Pathways “Ever since I was younger, I wanted to become a nurse,” says Faith Hamilton. As a nursing student interning at Norton Healthcare, Faith is part of the Boxes to Healthcare initiative of Norton Pathways, the career tracks program that allows UPS employees to have their U of L nursing degree tuition paid for so they can transition to a career in healthcare debt-free. What began as the Norton Scholars Program to recruit graduating nursing degree candidates from U of L has blossomed into an enriching partnership between UPS and Norton Healthcare. “We noticed many of our nursing students were already working at UPS to pay for their classes,” says Christy Ralston, Director of Workforce Development for Norton Healthcare. “We thought, why not make this partnership official?” The idea is simple. Nursing students work part-time at UPS while earning their degree, which is paid for by UPS. Meanwhile, the Norton Scholar program helps students transition to a successful career in healthcare at by offering employment and training at Norton Healthcare locations. “The program has really helped me with my school,” says Faith. “A lot of my confidence has come from working at Norton’s, knowing that when I get out of school, I do have opportunities. I’ve already met a lot people who I can potentially be working with that will help further my career as a nurse.” If you dream of a career in healthcare, the Boxes to Healthcare Initiative of the Norton Pathways Program may be the way to go. Learn more about how you can make a living, go to school, get valuable healthcare experience and graduate with a nursing degree with little or no student debt. (link needed) The UPS Advancement Roundtable Still need convincing that partnering your career and educational goals with UPS is your best move? Join Jeff Simionic, Vice President of Air District Worldport, as he discusses his own experiences at UPS and the Earn and Learn Program with two other UPS employees who are using UPS’ educational programs to achieve their dreams. You’ll hear the real stories behind the success of Jeff, Kelsey Termini, who worked her way up driving semi-trucks and is now a Feeder On Road Supervisor, and Cristian Taveras, a Frontline Supervisor at WorldPort. Hearing their stories is an opportunity to help you envision yourself working for UPS and going to college. Jeff, Kelsey, and Cristian walk you through the steps you can take to make the most of your career while at UPS. You’ll see first-hand how advancement in the company is not only possible, but actively encouraged. “I had many mentors growing up,” recalls Jeff. “In the mid-nineties when I went into management, I was told I needed to get my education. Earn and Learn helped me get my Bachelor’s and my Master’s degree. Now I’ve been with UPS for 27 years.” “I can relate,” says Kelsey. “UPS helped get my Associate’s in Baking and Pastry arts. Now, 8 years later, they’re helping earn my business degree.” “Coming from a single-parent household with five kids, you don’t really think about education past high school,” says Cristian. “But with programs like the UPS Metro College program, I have accessibility to college I never dreamed I’d have.” All the educational incentive programs UPS offers are an extension of the UPS commitment to give back to the communities in which they serve. UPS employees donate millions of hours to community service activities to enrich the lives of others every year. School to Work, Earn and Learn and the Norton Pathways are ways UPS can give back to their employee family as well.
