Voices of Pell

Heather Marie Mitchell

It would be so helpful for me if Congress were to double the Pell Grant. I wouldn’t be able to afford college if it wasn’t for the Pell Grant and scholarships. My husband and I both work, but we mainly live paycheck to paycheck, which is a struggle if I have to pay any extra costs for my classes. I live in worry that sometimes I won’t have enough money to cover my tuition and class materials. If this were to pass it would be a huge burden lifted off of me.”

Heather Marie Mitchell

Heather Marie Mitchell

Murray State University, KY

Heather says that when she graduated high school in 2010 she had no intention of going to college, but decided to enroll to provide a better life for her husband and herself. She loves to help children learn and succeed, and her post-graduate career goal is to teach second grade in her home district of Webster County, KY.

The Pell Grant has made college more affordable for Heather, including helping her pay for tuition, books, and a new laptop that she needed for online classes during the pandemic. But #DoublePell would be a major boost.

“It would be so helpful for me if Congress were to double the Pell Grant. I wouldn’t be able to afford college if it wasn’t for the Pell Grant and scholarships. My husband and I both work, but we mainly live paycheck to paycheck, which is a struggle if I have to pay any extra costs for my classes. I live in worry that sometimes I won’t have enough money to cover my tuition and class materials. If this were to pass it would be a huge burden lifted off of me.”