What FAFSA does not tell you is that there are many
costs for college in addition to tuition and
room and board. As college students, hardly any of us
have money lying around to spend on food and
additional school supplies, not to mention clothes and
eyeglasses. Now, thanks to the efforts of the Seton
Hill Government Association (SHGA), we can loosen
our purse strings with the addition of the
Griffin Advantage Program around Greensburg.
By Dani Choynowski
Staff Writer
What FAFSA does not tell you is that there are many
costs for college in addition to tuition and
room and board. As college students, hardly any of us
have money lying around to spend on food and
additional school supplies, not to mention clothes and
eyeglasses. Now, thanks to the efforts of the Seton
Hill Government Association (SHGA), we can loosen
our purse strings with the addition of the
Griffin Advantage Program around Greensburg.
Some students may have noticed the large “PITT”
stickers on the front windows of shops in the
Westmoreland Mall and other businesses around town the
past few years, signifying that they give a discount
to students of that university. Seton Hill students,
however, were not receiving discounts.
“The students brought it to our attention last year
that they wanted discounts for Seton Hill students,
because the Pitt students were getting discounts
around town,” said Amanda Gallagher, vice president of
the senate executive board.
Last spring semester, the issue was brought before the
senate. Together with the executive board, students
decided to go out into the community to find
businesses that were willing to give SHU students
discounts on food, hair products, art supplies,
clothes, books, and other items.
Over the summer, senate member Kelley Pelkey, a senior,
headed the operation, working together with
Jamie Steel of the activities and commuter life
department, to write letters and contact
various local businesses.
“Kelley put all the information together…she worked
really hard. Because of her, we have the program,” said
Gallagher.
To keep the students up to date on the program, the
SHUGA members have created a Facebook group
that includes a list of the businesses
offering discounts to SHU students.
The program, Steel said, gives the students a chance
to interact with the community.
“It’s a good example
of how the community of Greensburg and the SHU
students can work together to benefit everybody,” said Steel.
“The discounts are usually around 10-20%, which is a
really nice deal considering you’re a student,” said
Gallagher.
The executive board and other senate members continue
to try to get more businesses to join the program.
The next goal is Starbucks, which already offers discount
nights once a month to SHU students.