Photo and story by Tabitha Webster
The Basic Food & Employment Training program gives low-income students the opportunity to receive career training through Professional/Technical programs at Peninsula College.
BFET, administered by the Washington Department of Social and Health Services, pays for tuition, bus passes, textbooks and supplies. It also sets students up with food benefits, if they do not already receive them.
When needed, the program helps students connect with community organizations like Healthy Families, which provides clothing and other necessities.
Fields of study funded by the program include, but are not limited to Nursing, Criminal Justice and Welding.
Tim Walch, second year welding student, uses the program to complete courses toward his AA. So far he’s earned a number of steel welding certificates.
BFET allowed him to get food stamps, a money saving government service used by many students.
About 175 students currently receive assistance from the Training program. Around 15% of PC’s graduating class in Spring 2017 were BFET students.
The program has given aid to over 50,000 students nationwide since it started in 2006.
Annie Carver, Willow Peppers and Irene Shown are PC’s BFET program advisors.
“I run into our students in the community and that’s my biggest success, is when I see them doing what they want to do,” said Carver. “When they succeed, we succeed.”