Four Worcester State University students were among 25 students from seven local colleges and universities who recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for federal student financial aid programs with members of Congress.
The students, many of whom are from out-of-state districts represented by Republicans, discussed the importance of preserving key aid programs like Pell Grants, federal work-study, and subsidized student loans.
The Worcester State students—who made the trip with Carl Herrin, chief of staff for President Barry Maloney—were Delaina McDaniel ’28, a public health major from Texas; Fiona Hatton ’27, a computer science major from Alaska; Wyatt Friedlander ’25, a senior business major from New York; and Christian Phinney ’25 from Utah, a chemistry major.
They were joined by students from Clark University, the College of the Holy Cross, Quinsigamond Community College, UMass Chan Medical School, Nichols College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The trip was organized by the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts. The office of Rep. Jim McGovern served as the Capitol Hill host for the group.
The students urged Congress to protect financial aid programs that help make college affordable for low-income students, reduce student debt, and support students’ basic needs. They specifically supported maintaining the Pell Grant program, the primary source of federal student aid. Pell Grants were awarded to more than 97,000 students in Massachusetts in the 2023-2024 school year, totaling nearly $471 million. The students also called on their Congress members to maintain funding for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) program, which provides additional grants to Pell Grant recipients with the greatest financial need.
(l to r) Chris Phinney, Wyatt Friedlander, Delaina McDaniel and Fiona Hatton at the Capitol building
In addition, the students highlighted the importance of the federal work-study program, which provides part-time jobs to help students pay for college and build professional skills. They urged Congress members to protect this program so that students can support themselves while pursuing their degrees.
“The Pell Grant has helped me out throughout my four years at Worcester State,” said Friedlander, “and I’m hoping that it will be available to help future students out as well. I wouldn’t have been able to go to college like Worcester State without it.”
The students met in Congressional offices with staff members of lawmakers from their home districts, including Representatives Elise Stefanik of New York, Troy Nehls of Texas, and Nick Begich of Alaska, and Senators Ted Cruz of Texas, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer of New York. Senator John Curtis, a first-term Republican from Utah, graciously met with the students himself.
McDaniel emphasized the need for lawmakers to see the human impact of financial aid decisions.
“I think it was really important to go there and show them, ‘Hey, this is the effect you’re having on students,’” McDaniel said. “We’re all student-athletes as well, and without financial aid the out-of-state tuition is incredibly high.”
Hatton told Congress members how financial aid opened up opportunities for her to attend college out of state and play hockey. “I’m from Alaska, and I wanted to play college hockey, and there are no schools in Alaska that offered that, so naturally I had to go out of state,” she said.
The advocacy trip comes as the Trump administration’s proposed FY 2026 budget would make significant cuts to several federal student aid programs, including by eliminating SEOG, Gear Up, and the Child Care Access Means Parents in School program. If enacted, these cuts would disproportionately impact low-income and underserved students, making it more difficult for them to access and complete higher education.
The students said that while they felt heard by the Democratic politicians they met, the real challenge will be convincing Republican lawmakers who have proposed cuts to student aid programs. While the administration’s budget proposal faces obstacles before potential approval, the Worcester State contingent said they and their peers from other local institutions remain hopeful that their advocacy efforts will make a difference. As Friedlander said, “It was an important thing to do, for sure.”
The students plan to continue monitoring the federal budget process and are prepared to speak up again if necessary to protect critical financial aid that makes their college education possible.
Photos by Delaina McDaniel
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