East Hill Notes: The power of work-study students

The Community Work Study Program, sponsored by Cornell University’s Public Service Center, allows students the opportunity to use their federal work-study funds to be employed by local non-profit organizations, municipalities or schools.

The program was developed in 1974 to explore ways in which the academic community could serve the larger community while equipping its graduates with knowledge and concern for human and societal problems. The program’s positions are designed to improve the quality of life for community residents or to solve particular problems related to resident’s needs.

Tamara Beardsley, administrative coordinator for the Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County, said the Cornell work-study students are intelligent, inquisitive and extremely helpful to the small nonprofit.

“They have assisted with several significant projects over the years that support those in the homeless community, those in need of assistance through our 2-1-1 Information and referral program, as well as nonprofit agencies in need through our various funding review opportunities,” Beardsley said. “Students add a diverse point of view to our work and provide us with the opportunity to mentor the next generation of nonprofit leaders.”

The staff at the Cornell Public Service Center are always helpful in supporting the HSC and keeping staff on track, Beardsley said.

“We could not accomplish nearly as much as we do in a year without this program and the low-cost support it brings to the mission of our organization,” she said.

Andy Song, a Cornell University finance major, class of ’22, said his experience working at the HSC has been an enriching experience.

“As an intern, I have the freedom to work on a wide variety of projects, all of which taught me so much about the issues residents face in Tompkins County,” Song said. “Working alongside a tight-knit group of people united by a strong desire to help others has inspired me to help solve problems in both Tompkins County and on Cornell’s campus.”

Song spoke highly of the work as well as the staff.

“My coworkers are people who could talk to you for hours about what they do because they’re so invested in helping their community, and their openness has allowed me to develop a stronger connection to this community,” he said. “The Human Services Coalition is a vital organization run by some of the most selfless, supportive people I’ve met, and I am so grateful to be a part of it.”

Nick Goldsmith, sustainability coordinator for the city of Ithaca, said Cornell class of ’20 student Christine Khong joined the city offices as an energy and sustainability intern in September of 2019, and she has been dedicated and dependable ever since.

“She has helped with a variety of tasks relating to the Ithaca Green New Deal, the Ithaca Energy Code Supplement and other initiatives,” Goldsmith said. “Because of the value she has provided, we have offered Christine a position at the town of Ithaca (my position is split between the two municipalities; I have an office in each), and we look forward to continuing working with her.”

Khong, an environmental and sustainability sciences major, said working as an intern for the city of Ithaca has been a wonderfully eye-opening experience.

“Learning at the side of the sustainability coordinator as he leads Ithaca into achieving the goals set in the Green New Deal resolution allows me to take part in developing climate action plans and projects involving building energy codes,” Khong said. “For someone who wants to pursue a career in sustainable project management, this internship couldn’t be more ideal.”

Nicole MacPherson is the Community Work-Study Program coordinator at Cornell University. For information about Cornell’s Community Work-Study Program, please contact MacPherson at cwsp-psc@cornell.edu.

East Hill Notes are published the first and third Wednesdays of each month in Tompkins Weekly.