A Story of the Power of the Corporate Work Study Program Partnership

A Reflection by Executive Vice President, Tom Bennett

On Thursday, March 18, I had a meeting at Parker Hannifin Corporation with their Legal & Tax Departments to discuss the year and to look forward to next year. At this meeting, we also discussed the possibility of expanding the program into other departments. During this wonderful meeting we discussed all of the successes that our students have had over the past five years at Parker. Whether it was Gary Martin ’08 at Fairfield University, Jasmyne Lewis ’09 at Baldwin Wallace, Ariel Powell ’10 waiting to hear from Oberlin College and Brown University, or Christian Robinson ’12 who recently read the Parker Annual Report and thoughtfully connected what he read with his career goals. It was clear from the conversations that we all have learned far more from our students than we have taught them. Saint Martin and Parker Hannifin are better because of our students.

It was around 1PM and the meeting was wrapping up with a commitment for the upcoming year when Janet LaBant, Legal Specialist, and Christine Vance of the Tax Department told me I needed to stay for a surprise they had planned for Ariel at 1:15. Two departments had chipped in and purchased a laptop for Ariel and wanted to give it to her today. They also told me about the other three things that they were going to do for her before she went off to college in the fall. (I can not reveal what these items are in case Ariel is reading this!)

So Janet, Christine, Senior Attorney Joe Pophal, and I took the elevator to the third floor legal conference room to give Ariel her present. Immediately, I was blown away. In this room there were at least 25 of Ariel’s colleagues at Parker Hannifin eagerly awaiting her presence. While we were waiting, everyone was gushing about the impact that Ariel has had on their respective departments as well as them personally.

Finally, at 1:20PM Ariel arrived and assessed the situation. Ariel, eyes darting nervously around the room, appeared as if an intervention of sorts was about to take place. Joe then announced to all in the room that Parker Hannifin would like to give Ariel an early graduation gift for all of her hard work over the past four years. Nestled in an oversized gift bag, beneath many layers of tissue paper, was a very nice backpack. Ariel was ecstatic about the backpack and thanked everyone for it. “Ariel,” said Christine, “there’s something inside the backpack.” After looking through four or five different compartments, Ariel found the brand new laptop!

The smile on Ariel’s face and on the faces of everyone in the room said it all. Several of us stood silently, wiping away tears, and marveling at the young woman before us. Reflecting on the course of events over the past four years – Ariel choosing to attend Saint Martin, Parker Hannifin meeting her for the first time in 2006, and now discussions about where she will attend college – is a humbling experience.

I am humbled by the power of the partnership between Saint Martin, our students, and our corporate partners. Ariel is better because of Saint Martin and Parker Hannifin. And Saint Martin and Parker are certainly better because of Ariel.