My name is Julie Hagerman, I am 38 years old going back to school for a career change/advancement, I am married with two teenage boys. My father, who worked at Ford and was a volunteer firemen, passed away in 1996 while fighting a fire. My mother is a Nurse who retired in 2018 after having stroke. When I graduated high school in 1999 I went college to be a firemen/paramedic. I have worked private EMS as a critical care paramedic until 2015, now currently working in an emergency room while I go to school. I have worked in the same ER for 12 years, I worked contingent while working on the ambulance. I also worked as a volunteer firemen/paramedic for Huron Township for 12 years. I worked all three jobs at the same time for a number of years.
My husband is a graduate from Monroe County Community College Nursing program. He worked part-time and went to school full time while I worked on average 60 hours a week for the household bills and went to school part-time. Today I am a full-time student working full-time and my husband just filed for under/unemployment as nurse as his hospital is closing for "cleaning" and a lot remains unknown. When awarded a scholarship like this, the recipient feels a great relief of stress lifted from their mind. I know because that is how I felt when receiving the Emergency Scholarship for the Covid-19 Pandemic. I have been using an outdated and slow laptop for the past couple of years. The nursing program required a laptop as of January of this year my laptop still met the requirements, thankfully. But when the program was unable to hold classes on campus and went to an online platform, I knew I was in trouble with my laptop. When the email came out for the scholarship I applied for it to purchase a new laptop. I was so thankful and relieved. I had not budgeted for a new laptop until the late summer when they go on "back school" sale. The household bills and kids needs come before what I need. In these times of uncertainty, it is wonderful to have a school and community donors committed to helping students change their lives for the better.
Monroe County Community College means family. I have attended a larger community college and I was a number. With my counselor, financial aid department and the Dean of the healthcare programs, I have a name. The teachers are wonderful, very helpful and want you to learn. A smaller school but a bigger support group to lean on in times of frustration is important. Thank you!!
You can help students like Julie with a gift to the MCCC Emergency Relief Fund.