Exchange’s Tuition Assistance Program Helps Associates Reach Their Goals
The tuition assistance program is part of the Exchange’s package to provide financial help to high-performing associates who want to enhance their professional and leadership skills in their Exchange careers via higher education.
The 2019 graduates who obtained degrees via the program are:
Bachelor’s:
- Joseph Blevins, Logistics Directorate business process specialist, HQ, Texas A&M University, Organizational Leadership
- Dawn Holland, JB Andrews store manager, Grantham University, Business Management
- Shelly Womack, Merchandising Directorate replenishment allocation specialist, HQ, Western Governors University, Business Management
Master’s:
- Matthew Beatty, Nellis AFB general manager, Amberton University, Human Relations & Business
- Toney Coleman, Executive Group, digital media specialist, HQ, Columbia Southern University, Project Management
- Karla McGary, Procurement Directorate category manager, HQ, Columbia Southern University, Organizational Leadership
- Megan Rall, Davis-Monthan AFB sales & merchandise manager, Southern New Hampshire University, International MBA in Finance
- Rebel White, IT Directorate, application systems program analyst, HQ, Southwestern Assemblies of God University, Business Administration
- John Wordlaw, Procurement Directorate category manager, HQ, Columbia Southern University, Organizational Leadership
The Exchange's Tuition Assistance Program dates to at least 1988. Since 2000, more than 1,200 associates have sought degrees with the program’s help, mostly in business administration, organizational management, strategic leadership, accounting & finance, marketing, information systems, and human resources.
This year, 73 associates are participating in the program and 20 will graduate. Forty-four associates work at Exchanges in the field; 14 of the graduates will be from the field.
To qualify for the program, associates must be regular full-time employees; have one year of continuous service; no disciplinary action; and participate in a program relevant to the Exchange’s operational needs.
There is an annual maximum of $5,250 for tuition assistance. Lifetime tuition assistance payments are limited to $20,000 for an undergraduate degree and $30,000 for a graduate degree. Applications are accepted throughout the year.
For more information and to apply, email tuitionassistance@aafes.com.
The 2019 graduates, like the ones before them, earned degrees on their own time, received exemplary grades and maintained job performance, said Stephanie Burns, vice president of HR Talent.
“These are monumental achievements and demonstrate exceptional leadership skills in work and life balance, and the Exchange celebrates the success of each graduate,” Burns said.
Holland said that obtaining her bachelor’s degree has “increased my knowledge in areas such as supply chain demand, business law, and marketing. It has allowed me to make better decisions while managing my staff and make a positive impact on the financial results of my facility and the Exchange as a whole.”
For Wordlaw, earning his master’s degree helped him grow personally.
“My degree exposed me to ideas and analytic concepts that have been useful in developing business strategies as a category manager,” he said. “I have shared what I have learned with other Exchange employees in hopes of developing future leaders.”
