Supporting Success in College for America

 By Logan Ouellette ’14

“I made a commitment to myself. I really wanted to try to do something, not only for myself, but to really show the importance of higher education to my children.”

Jay Carey has worked for McDonald’s® since he was in 8th grade. Hard work and experience allowed him to advance at his job. Now 43 years old and the father of two, he is celebrating 29 years with Caspers Company as manager and operator of 27 McDonald’s restaurants in Tampa, Florida. “McDonald’s values education, but it’s not a requirement,” he said. “You can continue to progress without degrees in our organization.” He did just that. Carey made it to the executive level of the organization all without a college degree.

A higher education never fit into Carey’s life. He was slated to attend college right after high school, but his mother was diagnosed with cancer and he had to put his education on hold. He enrolled in online courses in 1993, but struggled to find the time to fit his coursework into his busy schedule. Carey then started a family, and put off his education once more. When his children grew up, they encouraged him to take care of himself and to go back to school. “I made a commitment to myself,” he said. “I really wanted to try to do something, not only for myself, but to really show the importance of higher education to my children.”

Carey enrolled at College for America at Southern New Hampshire University and immediately became involved with the CfA community. Carey became a source of support and inspiration for the other Caspers employees who enrolled in the same program.

“College for America opened my eyes to teamwork and camaraderie. I really built a lot of skills that helped me both personally and professionally as a result of the program, which is why I’m so incredibly passionate about it.”

Carey completed his degree in time to attend the 2016 SNHU commencement in Manchester, NH. It all came together for Jay when the ceremony began. “To be in the arena and in the company of all of those other students made me feel so much more successful, happy, and proud to walk across the stage as a SNHU graduate.”

Since graduating, Carey has continued as a Community Coordinator for CfA, giving virtual open houses to new students. He also continues to be a source of support for his employees currently enrolled in the program. “I’ve talked to several people who have since graduated, or are getting ready to graduate. I’ve told them that if they made the trip to Manchester, I would go and sit in the audience to support them.”