…Western Governors University (WGU) and Carl Buddig & Company (Buddig) today announced they have entered into a joint partnership that will provide employees of the family-owned company known for its convenient and affordable meats with an affordable option to earning their bachelor’s or master’s degrees. Under the terms of the agreement, those who enroll in any of the online, nonprofit university’s 60-plus undergraduate or graduate degree programs in business, IT, K-12 teacher education or health professions – including nursing – will now be eligible to apply for scholarships offered through the WGU Collaborative Agreement Scholarship program.
The scholarships, each valued at up to $2,500, are designed for employees of WGU’s partner collaboratives that are seeking to advance their education. Each scholarship will be disbursed in increments of $625 per six-month term and can be renewed for up to four terms based on satisfactory academic performance. Applicants who lack access to affordable, high-speed internet will also be eligible to apply for the WGU Online Access Scholarship, which covers internet installation and monthly access costs for the duration WGU students who qualify are active and in good standing and also provides devices to students who are in need.
Founded in 1943, Carl Buddig & Company feeds family traditions with a strong history of quality, variety, innovation and value. As a fourth-generation owned family company, Buddig embraces time-tested traditions and supports today’s families with flavorful and affordable meal solutions as they create new ones. The company’s idea of family also extends to the thousand-plus individuals they employ, all of whom share a commitment to upholding the highest quality of Buddig products customers know and love.
“Buddig is a family-owned company located in the Chicago area for over 75 years, and, like any good family, we take care of each other,” said Kim Zubrickas, Vice President of Human Resources at Buddig. “Beyond basic benefits, all Buddig employees can expect college tuition payment assistance to support upskilling pathways for their continued success.”
WGU offers Carl Buddig & Company employees a competency-based approach to learning that allows students to take advantage of their knowledge and previous experience to quickly move through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. Students complete their programs by studying on schedules that fit their lives, advancing as soon as they demonstrate they have mastered the subject matter. WGU faculty members work one-on-one with students as mentors, offering guidance, support and individualized instruction. While WGU’s degree programs are rigorous and challenging, competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate their progress and graduate faster, saving both time and money.
“We’re excited to be partnering with Carl Buddig & Company to make quality, competency-based higher education more accessible to its employees,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Regional Vice President of Western Governors University. “With family at the heart of everything they do, Buddig treats its employees like family and is committed to providing them with access to the support and financial services they need to be successful, and this partnership will help support that mission.”
For more information about WGU and its partnership with Carl Buddig & Company, visit www.wgu.edu/buddig.
About WGU
Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit WGU now serves more than 130,000 students nationwide and has more than 250,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nation’s leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 25 years, the university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families and preparing the workforce needed in today’s rapidly evolving economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and has been featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. Learn more at www.wgu.edu.
About Carl Buddig & Company
Carl Buddig and Company, based in Homewood, Illinois, has been feeding family traditions for over 75 years with the very best in taste, variety and convenience. Owned and operated by the third generation, the company is proud to have welcomed fourth-generation Buddig family members to the business in recent years.
Carl Buddig and Company is the parent company of great-tasting Buddig lunchmeat, Old Wisconsin hardwood-smoked sausage and snack products and pre-cooked ribs and barbecue entrees under the Kingsford brand. To learn more, please visit www.buddig.com and www.oldwisconsin.com and www.KingsfordBBQMeats.com.
# # #
For more information, contact:
Pamela Powell
(314) 436-9090
pam@hausergrouppr.com