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Ella Walden had a plan for her future, and every decision she made related to her education was the product of great care and deliberation. She decided to transfer to �鶹ӰԺ State to pursue a degree in conservation biology, and she did so because it aligned with her career aspirations and made the most financial sense for her. But in the fall of 2023, her roommate suddenly moved out, leaving Ella to shoulder the full rent of their apartment. Those carefully laid plans were dashed and her goal of earning a degree was in jeopardy.

She was carrying a full course load while working part time, but the money she was earning wasn’t enough to cover everything. With the extra and unexpected financial strain from additional rent, Ella was facing difficult decisions between continuing her education and paying for the basics, like housing and food. Realizing the gravity of her situation, she began to look for help and guidance, and she came to the CARES Center.

“Everyone at the CARES Center was very polite and respectful. It didn’t feel like you were losing any dignity regardless of the reason you needed to be there,” Ella explained. “You always felt like you were in good hands.”

The CARES Center connects students to essential resources including food, housing, finances and mental health services. It helps students achieve success in the classroom by ensuring that their basic needs are met outside of the classroom as well. 

That fall, Ella visited the CARES Center several times. By working with a case manager at the center, she also learned what state benefits were available to her, including medicaid and food stamps. Those two benefits brought her some peace of mind. She had a health insurance card in case she needed it and was still able to purchase fruits and veggies that could provide her with proper nutrition. She also accessed the food pantry and was pleasantly surprised to find it set up very much like a grocery store.

“Whatever your circumstances are in college, you don’t know when they will change,” Ella said. “Being able to have resources to help you adapt to challenges and keep working to earn your degree is really important.”

She is on track to graduate in May 2025, an accomplishment for which she partially credits the support of the CARES Center.

Ella also participated in two internships: one with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board the summer before coming to �鶹ӰԺ State, and the other with the Erie National Wildlife Refuge through AmeriCorp last summer. Whether she was tracking and removing invasive plant species or ensuring that state-owned land is properly maintained, both internships gave her the opportunity to spend time in nature while making a difference for people, animals and the environment.

She hopes to follow that passion for the natural world through her work as a conservation professional, a future that might not have been possible without the help of the CARES Center at �鶹ӰԺ State.

When you give to the , you empower students to continue on the path to earning their degree. Your generosity can provide emergency funding for food, shelter, mental health support and unexpected financial hardships, allowing students to persevere and stay focused on academics.