This Company Will Provide College For the Children of its Employees

The path to a career has always been through education. Now, Hormel Foods just announced that it will pay for a two-year college degree for all of the children of its employees, no strings attached.

The Inspired Pathway’s program will begin in 2021 and the Austin Minnesota food company known for its pork products and canned staples like corned beef hash and Dinty Moore stew has decided that it will pick up the tab for community college.

A company press release said that it is providing the opportunity for a college education at a time when  college costs have become a hardship for many and local community colleges are struggling for enrollment.

“We believe equality in education can be a game-changer, and we have decided to take on that challenge. Through a new program called Inspired Pathways, we are going to make the dream of a college education a reality for the children of our team members,” Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer, Hormel Foods said in the press release.

“When you think about how a college education can change lives and start a ripple effect that will be felt for generations, that’s the change-maker Hormel Foods wants to be.”

He explained that many of the Hormel employees who come from diverse backgrounds and cultures never had the opportunity to attend college. Now, their children will.

The Inspired Pathways is open to all US employees in every food plant. The company will partner with community colleges in all the cities where Hormel has operations. The company will also create mentoring committees that will assist the children even with the college applications, internships, and career development.

The only academic requirement is that the student’s graduate from high school, their grades or SAT scores will not be taken into consideration according to Minnesota CBS. This is really an equal opportunity for any child of an employee who wants to attend college to do so.

The company already has a successful Hormel Foundation Austin Assurance Scholarship that benefits all high school students who live in Austin, Minnesota according to the press release, as well as a four-year college scholarship through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The company also offers tuition reimbursement for employees that take college courses.

While many companies offer tuition reimbursement for employees including UPS, Wells Fargo, Starbucks, Chipotle, and Walmart according to Business Insider, this does not extend to the employee’s children.

The Inspired Pathways program will be a life-changer for many who could otherwise never even consider going to college. They can enter the job market with a two-year degree or continue their education. It is a triple win for the students, the community colleges, and the communities themselves.

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