Ferris State University student David Wenzlick testified before a state House of Representatives subcommittee this week, sharing how the Tuition Incentive Program has made it possible for him to get a transformative education.

Wenzlick, a sophomore from Lapeer, joined Dan Eichinger, Ferris State’s vice president for Governmental and External Affairs, in testifying before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education and Community Colleges on Thursday, March 7, in Lansing.

TIP is a state program that encourages eligible students to complete high school and continue their education by providing tuition assistance for the first two years of college and beyond.

Wenzlick told lawmakers he never expected to go to college.

“Although I held the desire for higher education and the college experience, it felt like something out of my reach,” he said. “Something that I could never afford. Something with, even help from my parents, I could never afford. Well, without putting myself in financial jeopardy that is. I didn’t want to throw my loans on the people who have been supporting me my whole life. College was a thing I had to do on my own, if I was going to do it.”

He said a high school counselor told him he would be eligible for the program and reduce his college expenses. After taking a year off, he decided to pursue his education, working during summers to cover housing costs – and avoid debt.

 “I've been a student at Ferris State University for almost two full years now, and without TIP, none of it would have been possible,” he said. “I've struggled with finding what career path I should take. With TIP, I have been able to take classes that follow my interests rather than what degree I signed my life to. I've been able to study Psychology, Business Marketing, Personal Finance, Human Biology, Philosophy, Creative Writing, Environmental Bio, and Music. I've been able to explore multiple career paths with the security of knowing that my time here was spent enhancing my intellect and deepening my understanding of the world and my place in it. All thanks to TIP.”

Wenzlick said he has thrived at Ferris State, raising his grade point average to a 3.7 after earning a 2.8 in high school – which he said is an indication of his commitment and appreciation for the chance to get a college education. He’s hoping for a career in environmental conservation.

Eichinger told lawmakers Ferris State this year enrolled 1,621 students through the program. Nearly 1,200 are seeing an associate degree and more than 400 are working toward a bachelor’s degree.

He said 44 percent of Ferris State TIP scholars are minorities; 60 percent are female; 69 percent are from outside of the state’s five most populous counties – and 80 percent are in good academic standing. 

“Which proves that sometimes all someone needs is an opportunity and that your parent’s income shouldn’t be a proxy college worthiness,” he said. 

Eichinger said 3,811 Ferris State TIP students have earned degrees in the last decade.

“In many cases those degrees are the instrument that breaks generational poverty cycles, that degree folder becomes a physical symbol of hope, opportunity, and reward for hard work,” he said. “Serving students, but especially serving first generation students is the core of what we do and keeps us connected to our founder and his vision that accessing education is fundamental to healthy, vibrant, an industrious community.”

State Rep. Nancy DeBoer, R-Holland, said she was inspired by Wenzlick’s testimony.

“I wish you all the best as you continue to use these skills that you are honing, and that you will keep telling your story to inspire other kids so they don’t give up, so they don’t say, ‘That’s the end,’ and don’t say, ‘That’s as far as I can go.’ You can give them hope with your story.”