Buies Creek–The mother of three boys, Hope Schachte wakes up at 4 a.m. and puts on her Housekeeping uniform; she’s at work by five, cleaning lavatories and sweeping carpets. At 6 p.m., when most people are winding down from the day, Hope’s day is just beginning.Sitting behind a desk in her Western Civilization class, Hope is one of a growing number of full-time Campbell employees who are grasping the opportunity to complete their education.”There is nothing as important to a person as getting an education,” said Hope, a resident of Dunn, whose husband is disabled. “I just wanted my last years of working to be a little less physical, a little easier. I wanted to do something where I could sit behind a desk,” she laughed.Hope and her cousin Julie Melvin, also a Housekeeping employee, made a mutual decision to pursue an undergraduate degree at Campbell where they receive free tuition as full-time employees. But Julie, a divorced mother of two, and Hope, the major wage-earner in her family, weren’t exactly sure how to go about it. Then Campbell Housekeeping Superintendent Jonathan Pratt gave them a little push.”He really encouraged us,” said Julie, who has a 17 year-old daughter and a son who is 14. “He not only pushes people to get their G.E.D, but he urged us to become full-time students at Campbell. ‘You just plan on enrolling,’ he said; ‘we’ll figure it out from there.'” With the support of Physical Plant Director David Martin and Jim Roberts, vice president for Business and Treasurer of Campbell University, Pratt gave Julie and Hope the flexibility to accommodate their class schedules. They each carry 12 1/2 semester hours, attending classes at night and during the day after they are finished with their Housekeeping duties. Pratt himself is a part-time student who plans to attend law school. “In general, anyone at Campbell who wants to improve their education can,” said Pratt. “Education is a part of the message here.”Currently, three Housekeeping employees have successfully completed the high school equivalency program at Central Carolina Community College and five Physical Plant employees, three in Housekeeping and two in General Services, are working on four-year degrees. Pratt said he’s also had others to come forward with the desire for an education.”Once they get it and they have someone encouraging them, they do it,” Pratt said. “And I’m not going to stop encouraging them.” Meanwhile Julie and Hope act as each other’s support while they work toward a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. If all goes well, they will graduate in 2012.”School is a lot harder now than it was 20 years ago,” said Hope. “You need to study a lot more. At the end of the day, you’re tired, but it’s a good tired. You know that there is a goal you’re working for.”Hope Schachte, 40, graduated from Erwin High School in 1985. She and her husband Jim are the parents of three sons, Jason, 20; Jamie, 19; and Justin, 15.Julie Melvin, 39 of Erwin, graduated from Douglas Byrd High School in Fayetteville in 1987. She has a son Matthew and a daughter Erica.Photo Copy: Hope Schachte, sitting, and Julie Melvin help each other study for exams. Schachte and Melvin are Housekeeping employees and full-time students at Campbell University. Photo by Shannon Ryals.
Hope, determination motivate full-time student employees