On Mar. 9, 2015, Shelley Vail, Director of Financial Aid, Kingswood University gave her Classification Talk to the Club.
A native of Sussex, Shelley first started working at Kingswood University in 2001 as the Administrative Assistant in the Enrollment Office.
In 2005, Shelley left to pursue a career in the banking industry and had reached her goal of being promoted to Senior Personal Banking Officer, when an opportunity at Kingswood University was again available. Having worked so hard to achieve her promotion of handling the financial portfolios of nearly 600 clients, Shelley, I was reluctant to leave her job at the bank.
At an alumnus, Beulah Family Camp in Brown’s Flat, New Brunswick, Shelley was touched by many former students that had become missionaries in restricted countries, inner-city pastors and worship pastors in local churches. With this, Shelley knew that it was time to help others come to Kingswood University...
Kingswood University was founded in 1945 and initially located in Woodstock, NB. In 1947 the school was relocated to Yarmouth, NS and again relocated in 1965 to its Sussex location. 1968 a change in church name, and finally, in 2011, the University became Kingswood University.
The current campus has four sister campuses in the USA. Kingswood University is home to 198 full-time students from 15 different denominations. The university graduates are currently serving in 27 different countries around the world with a placement rate of 83%
Kingswood University operates on an annual budget of 4.6 million and employs 46 people. Shelley uses basic principles of finance to show students ways to earn and borrow money for their tuition and living expenses. Then, Shelley shows the students how they can meet that need themselves through summer employment, grants, and possible scholarships.
Shelley shows students how they can save more and borrow less to finance their education and avoid high student loans.
Shelley shared that "watching the students strive in their responsibilities is so rewarding! Having the opportunity to serve side by side with them in the community has been the best experience this far."
Shelley lives just outside of Sussex with her husband, Malcolm (Moe), who is co-owner with his two brothers in a construction business. Shelley loves to ski, swim, and go camping (RV only) and explore home decorating ideas.
Fellow Rotarian Ian Smyth thanks Shelley Vail for her interesting classification talk. Ian presented Shelley with a token of the Club's appreciation for her message.