Editor’s note: This commentary is by Lisa Groeneveld, of South Burlington, who is co-founder, co-owner and COO of Logic Supply, where she is also chair of the board. She is a trustee at Champlain College and on the advisory board of the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center.
[D]eciding whether and where to go to college is difficult for all students. For some, staying close to home is the best choice. For others, leaving their home state is ultimately the better option. I’m concerned the Vermont Legislature, which has a 50-year history of supporting grant portability, is considering eliminating it. The grant program provides vital financial aid to low- and medium-income Vermonters, like I was. Without the grant program, Logic Supply, the company I co-founded, would not exist today. So I’d like to share my experience.
I knew I wanted a degree in international business and a career in IT. With a Vermont state grant, I attended an accredited American college in Switzerland and Northeastern University in Boston. While at NU I did a co-op in Paris at Alcatel and in Amsterdam at AT&T. After a stint in Tennessee, I relocated to the Netherlands where I worked for WorldCom and met my husband Roland. All told, I speak three languages fluently and have nearly 20 years of international business experience working with my customers who were Fortune 500 companies from Philips to FedEx. All thanks to the Vermont Student Assistance Corp. and grant portability.
As a result, I was well prepared to start and grow Logic Supply. In choosing our headquarters, like many Vermonters, I wanted to come home. And I knew that Vermont was ready for our high tech business. Today we are a rapidly expanding global computer hardware manufacturer with offices in South Burlington, the Netherlands and Taiwan. We employ more than 100 Vermonters, with a total global workforce of 130 people. Without my years studying and working abroad, Logic Supply would simply not exist.
Should we legislate limiting learning opportunities in order to keep our taxpayer dollars at Vermont colleges and universities? I say no; instead we should be creating opportunities and great jobs. In 1990, my father Charlie told my mother Sue, “If we tell Lisa she can’t leave, she’ll resent us later and probably leave Vermont anyway.” With this in mind, we ask the Legislature not to force financially disadvantaged students to stay if their educational interests lead them elsewhere. Economically disadvantaged Vermonters face enough hurdles already. Instead of adding more barriers, let’s feed the fire that is driving them towards a college education. Our state economy benefits from the varied skills and talents our students acquire when attending their chosen academic programs in their preferred environment. When students are happy, they’re more likely to succeed academically and contribute to the Vermont and national economy.
My mom and dad always kept the porch light on when they knew I was on my way back. As I pulled into the driveway in Barre after a long trip, I used to look over the city and take a deep breath; I was home. I’m asking the Vermont Legislature to support our students, even if they leave and “keep the porch light on” so they can find their way home again too.
