Retirement community in Kennett offering tuition assistance program

KENNETT SQUARE » Over the years, Kendal-Crosslands Communities, employs thousands of area high school students to work in their Culinary Department. Area schools include Kennett, Unionville, Avon Grove, and Oxford High School. Although there is a traditional tuition assistance program for staff members already enrolled in a higher education, now Kendal is providing a future college or trade school tuition assistance program exclusively for their high school student staff members.

“As a prominent employer in Southern Chester County for the last 50 years, KendalCrosslands

Communities is honored to employ so many students, says Roger Polius, Senior Director of Human Resources. “The high school staff members use their job experience to springboard their careers and we are happy to help them do that with an education assistance program.”

“For every month a high student works, they earn one credit, and each credit is worth $100. We put aside the money towards their future college and trade school education,” says John Platt, Director of Culinary Services. The community makes a payment directly to the institution of the student’s choice. The maximum a high school student can earn per year is $1,200 with a minimum work requirement of 10 hours per week. “In addition to free meals and uniforms, flexible schedules that work around school and extracurricular activities, our high school student staff members make lifelong friends and enjoy the welcoming work environment,” says Platt.

Some staff members use their experience to begin their careers in the Culinary field and remain within the department after high school and work their way to higher level positions. Meet Clarence, who started his career in high school and is now the Cook Supervisor at their Crosslands campus. Others begin their career in Culinary and after high school, they attend a nursing school to enhance their career within their Health Services Department. Meet Millie, who began her career as a waitress in high school and is now their Home Care Manager.

Whatever the aspiration, Kendal-Crosslands Communities can meet the career needs of their staff members with a variety of career types. “We enjoy having our area high school students work here,” says Karen, a Kendal at Longwood resident. It is wonderful to hear what they are doing in school, share in their hopes and dreams, and encourage them along the way,” says Karen.

Kendal seeks culinary persons to work in their dining

room as servers, or their coffee shop and café as attendants, cooks, and dishwashers. If you, or someone

you know is interested, check out their website for more information at kcc. kendal.org

SUBMITTED PHOTO Kendal-Crosslands Communities is offering tuition assistance for Future college or trade school.