Phil Vendetti: Instructor at CPTC

Phil Vendetti is an instructor at CPTC who has worked in both two and four institutions. Phil believes that two year institutions are of great value to students of all ages, and that they meet the needs of Plus 50 adults especially well. Additionally, he feels that the benefit of Plus 50 students attending two year institutions is mutual, as Plus 50 students add perspective and wisdom to the learning process.

Student Profile: Catherine Antonoff

After working in the health industry for 35 years, Catherine Antonoff was forced to seek retraining due to an injury she sustained as a nurse. Because she wanted to stay in the health field and enjoys working around people, she decided to enter the health unit coordinator program at CPTC. Being a Plus 50 adult, Catherine initially had the commonplace anxieties about going back to school as an adult, but soon realized her fears were not well grounded. She stated that everyone in the class got along well and helped each other learn, the instructor put forth the neccessary effort to meet each students needs, and that she is impressed with her self and surprised by her ability to learn regardless of her age.

Student Profile: Jodi Mincona

In a recent blog post I introduced Jodi Mincona, a Plus 50 student at Clover Park Technical College working toward her Associates degree in Environmental Sciences & Technology. Now you can watch a video in which she describes her experiences at CPTC and why she chose Brownfields job training and the Environmental Science program. (this video is also available at greenli.ning.com)

Sharon Freeman: Opportunity Grant Coordinator

Sharon Freeman, the Opportunity Grant Coordinator at Clover Park Technical College, assists those who are financially disadvantaged in pursuing a college education. In this position, she is able to see the impact that an education has on individuals' lives, including Plus 50 adults. In this video Sharon describes one such transformation, and the resources that helped to make it possible.

Student Profile: Charles McDonald

After being laid off from his job as a laborer, Charles McDonald decided to go back to school as a Plus 50 adult. In doing so, he was able to pursue interests that he set aside years ago. Charles found Clover Park Technical College to be a good fit, as it allowed him to obtain a degree in Architectural Engineering in two years rather than four. His advice to fellow Plus 50 adults is not to be afraid to go back to school; lots of Baby Boomers are doing it.

Student Profile: Jodi Mincona

Jodi Mincona, is a Plus 50 student at Clover Park Technical College working toward her Associates in Environmental Science. When she first decided to pursue re-training, Jodi shared the same concerns as many other Plus 50 adults about her ability to succeed after many years away from school. While her experiences thus far have not been without challenges, Jodi has discovered that she is probably a better student now then when she was in high school. If you are interested in learning more about Jodi's experiences on her pathway to a Green Career, a short video interview will be posted soon! (the video will also be available at Greenli.ning.com).

The Best Online Tools for Personal Finance

You may hear about free tools on the internet that will improve the ease with which you manage your personal finances, but it is hard to decipher which tools are necessary for your personal situation or which websites you can trust. An article in the Wall Street Journal, titled, The Best Online Tools for Personal Finance, gives a couple examples of noteworthy websites in each of the following areas: budgeting your money, creating a financial plan, tracking investments and getting advice, checking for fraud, and keeping track of credit. Even though they are free, there are pros and cons to most of these websites, as author Shelly Banjo explains. She also explains how each of these tools can best be used. This can really be beneficial, as great tools are only great if you know when and how to use them.

Click here to read the article.