COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
OVERCOMING THE STORM Educator Stays the Course through Hurricane Sandy’s Aftermath
Student Credit Hours
1,386 UG 8,596 G
Tim H. Cox, academic advising master’s student, helps other students achieve their educational goals at his job at Brookdale Community College in Old Bridge, N.J.—located in a county hard hit by Hurricane Sandy in fall 2012.
Share of DCE SCH
Cox was traveling out of state during the storm, 15.4% waiting a week for a flight home. He returned to floods, downed DCE returned trees, damaged property and long lines for food to the College of Education in and gasoline. Most salaries, DRAs and transfers of the town went without power for two in FY13. weeks, making it difficult if not impossible to continue his course work under such extreme conditions.
$1.8 million
12
DIVISION OF CONTINUING EDUCATION
“Honestly, K-State reaching out to students after Hurricane Sandy made me feel like I was officially part of the K-State family,” Cox said. “From emotional counseling to academic assistance, it was great to see that resources were available to all students. My professors were very understanding of the challenges we were facing.” With his passion for higher education, Cox has served college students for five years, helping those at Brookdale through the storm’s aftermath. He says with patience, determination and support from family, K-State and Brookdale, he also could remain focused on his studies that semester. “Even though I am hundreds of miles away, knowing that I am cared about makes a big difference,” he said. Now, one year later, Cox is proud to report much of the Jersey Shore and surrounding communities have recovered and established a new sense of community. His own point of pride: maintaining a 4.0 GPA through the most challenging of situations. Cox plans to pursue a doctoral degree in education after completing his master’s degree next year.
Tim H. Cox returns to his campus in Old Bridge, N. J. to continue advising students at Brookdale Community College after Hurricane Sandy.