Corey always assumed he would go straight to college after completing high school. However, for many years financial commitments and the demands of life limited his ability to make that dream a reality. He attended a local community college, but found it very slow going because he worked a rotating schedule.

In 2004, Corey made the decision to earn his degree through EPCE. At the time, he was working as a laborer at a coal fired power plant. He knew this wasn't the type of work he really wanted to do and that in order to get out of manual labor he needed to earn a degree. It was also important to Corey that the program he entered was endorsed by his company and delivered online.

At the time, Corey was very active in the IBEW and it was through his involvement with the union that he became familiar with EPCE. According to Corey, "Once my Plant Manager understood that EPCE programs are created specifically for the electric industry and that their education providers are fully-accredited, my employer agreed to help fund a percentage my education and offered their full support."

Corey earned his Associate's degree in less than 2 years and has since been promoted because of his EPCE education. Today he works as a Control Systems Specialist maintaining the power plant control system he helped design while earning his degree. "I was chosen to help design our new system as a direct result of my enrollment in the program."

Corey is a huge advocate of technology. "A cell phone and laptop with portable internet connections were critical to my success." The right technology allowed him to join in family activities but still complete his education. "Before I had the right tools, I was always the bad guy missing baseball games or cancelling camping trips. Once I had the proper technology I was able to better balance my home, school, and work life."

Corey's advice to prospective students, "Think about where you were two years ago. If you'd started the EPCE program then, you could have a degree by now. Time is going to go by either way. You might as well be improving yourself and your situation."

Corey is currently thinking about continuing his educational pursuits by entering the EPCE-sponsored BSAST in Energy Utility Technology offered through Thomas Edison State College. That goal will however have to wait for awhile as he is in the process of remodeling his home and needs to get the kitchen finished first.