Last semester, seven student leaders and two staff members traveled to Lexington, Kentucky, to represent Blackburn College’s Work Program and attend the 2024 Work Colleges Consortium Student Service Conference. The Work Colleges Consortium supports member schools with federal compliance, conducts research, shares best practices, and supports work-learning-service activities within the group.
During the conference, students and staff attended professional development sessions presented by staff from the Work Colleges. They also traveled to nearby WCC members Alice Lloyd College and Berea College. While visiting, the group toured each campus and had the opportunity to make brooms and textiles. The students and staff also completed service projects with their Work College counterparts, including assembling hygiene and motivational bags for regional family resource and youth service centers, building and transporting bat houses, and clearing trails up and down the mountain.
Another highlight of the trip was that while eating lunch on the Berea campus, former Blackburn College President Miriam (Mim) Pride stopped by to visit the group.
Some of the Blackburn students and staff who went on the journey reflected on their experiences:
Connor Partin
Campus Safety & Security Manager, 2024-25
“My experience on the Work Consortium trip was very interesting. I got the chance to meet with other students from different schools and got the chance to compare our work experience stories and effective work methods. We also discussed why work colleges are so important and how the skills will further improve our professional development.”
Connecting with other schools and professional staff made me feel extremely blessed to attend THIS institution and all the opportunities it provides. I would encourage anyone to pursue student leadership in some facet to maximize their personal and professional growth.
Luke Bell, General Manager, 2024-25
Ashley Hickerson
Student Life Department Manager, 2023-25
“The Work College Consortium trip was a unique experience that allowed all of us who went there to understand how different all the other Work Colleges are. Being able to come together from all over the country to talk through all of our similar experiences with Work Colleges, get tours of two of the colleges and their ways of life, and provide services to different organizations in their communities were my favorite parts of the trip.”
Lexi Mosby
Academics Department Manager, 2024-25
“The Work College Consortium Service Trip was a unique opportunity to experience other work college’s day to day life. I especially enjoyed visiting Berea College and Alice Lloyd College, as I was able to learn more about their history and programs. I highly encourage future managers to attend this trip if given the opportunity, as I believe it to be important in gaining a deeper understanding and appreciation for work colleges across the country.”
Luke Bell
General Manager, 2024-25
“My experience at the Work College Consortium was a great learning experience and a way for me to develop my professionalism skills. In addition to learning how to network and gaining tips in professional wear and communication we got to enjoy the beautiful Appalachian mountains on our service project and contributed to the conservation efforts of protecting local species of bats. Connecting with other schools and professional staff made me feel extremely blessed to attend THIS institution and all the opportunities it provides. I would encourage anyone to pursue student leadership in some facet to maximize their personal and professional growth.”
Leslie Johnson
Dean of Work
“I loved getting to meet students and staff from the other Work Colleges. Each college is unique, and it was fascinating to learn how they approach student work at their respective colleges. The students from different colleges were fascinated to learn about our student-managed work program at Blackburn.”