Gift Allows Remington College – Cleveland West Student to Hear Every Word at Graduation this Month

Remington College Cleveland Graduation Ceremony, similar to the one Burkey-Sanders will participate in May 22, 2010

VFW Post 2533, Beltone team up for donation of new hearing aids for Remington College-Cleveland West student

Like all college students, Jennifer Burkey-Sanders looks forward to hearing her name being called during Remington College – Cleveland West graduation ceremonies this month.

But for Burkey-Sanders, hearing her name at the ceremony takes on a very special meaning. She’s been dealing with hearing loss since birth. What she does hear is muffled and causes her to miss out on sounds that most people take for granted.

But thanks to Cleveland VFW Post 2533 and Beltone, she won’t miss any of the sounds at her graduation ceremony on May 22. The two recently teamed up for a donation of new hearing aids for Burkey-Sanders. The VFW paid several thousand dollars for the hearing aids and Beltone gave the group a significant discount.

“Now I am actually able to enjoy and be a part of the conversations going on around me,” said Burkey-Sanders. “Normally I would just sit and focus on facial expressions of the people around me so I would know when and how to react. I could only catch bits and pieces of what was being said.”

Burkey-Sanders has had to get by without hearing aids as an adult because of a lack of insurance and the high cost to purchase them.

Burkey-Sanders put in many extra hours of studying and received help from instructors and classmates to graduate with honors from the Medical Assisting Diploma Program at Remington College-Cleveland West Campus. Classmates shared their class notes with her and instructors provided written copies of their lectures and extra help after class.

Not only is Burkey-Sanders a busy student, but she’s also a busy mom. She cares for her disabled husband and three teenage sons. She’s now job hunting and looking forward to a new career in the medical field.

“I would like to thank the VFW and God for blessing me with a gift that will continue to give for many years to come, not only to me but to everyone around me,” said Burkey-Sanders.

The Remington College-Cleveland West Campus graduation will take place on Saturday, May 22 at 1 pm at the Westlake Performing Arts Center, located at 27830 Hilliard Boulevard in Westlake.