Regginald Brown is proof that it is never too late to follow through on your career goals. Next year, he will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business thanks to BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina’s education assistance program. 

“I wanted to go to school when I was younger, but life circumstances meant that I had to go to work. But after working for BlueCross for 16 years, now that my son is graduating from high school, it’s time for me to graduate college. BlueCross has afforded me the opportunity to do so,” says Brown, who works as a senior dedicated service consultant. 

In 2023, Brown started a business administration program online with Colorado Technical University. He plans to graduate with his bachelor’s alongside his son, who will graduate from Lugoff-Elgin High School in 2025. As a first-generation college student, Brown is proud to model this tradition for his family. 

The company’s education assistance benefit is a long-standing, but lesser-known program in the organization, unlike our leadership program that prepares employees for advancement. Since 2022, the program has helped 195 employees pursue their educational goals by funding tuition reimbursements. It is offered to full-time employees enrolled in a degree program. 

“BlueCross has a celebrated history of investing in the state of South Carolina and its people, and the Education Assistance Program is a shining example of how the organization exemplifies that philosophy,” says Carleen Ward, learning and development manager at BlueCross. “This program offers tuition reimbursement so that employees can pursue degrees, which in turn provides opportunities to further their careers.” 

The program sets employees up to advance in their career with the company. Pay increases are not guaranteed, but it does set up employees to qualify for other positions at BlueCross that can come with higher salaries. 

“There are hundreds of different positions at BlueCross, which means that an employee could literally have dozens of diverse careers during their tenure with the company. This benefit provides employees with an opportunity to obtain the required education needed for the different careers they want to have, all while making higher education affordable,” Ward says. 

Even though Brown didn’t pursue a degree when he was younger, he has found a diverse career at BlueCross. He started with the company at 20 and has advanced through the years. 

“You could say that I started at the bottom, but I liked what the company was about and what I was doing. Then I progressed from there. And now, I’m back in school studying what I want to help with my career for a better financial future,” he says. 

The education assistance program doesn’t have a lengthy application process or eligibility requirements. Any program or school that is nationally accredited is eligible, but courses that are of personal interest, sports, hobbies or certificate programs do not qualify. 

“Finances is a lot of what dictates going to school or not going to school. Having BlueCross support me in what I want to study has been a real stress reliever,” Brown says. 

Brown is already putting what he is learning in his program to work at BlueCross, but he is excited to continue to grow here. 

“The benefit of the program is that I am committed to working here. When I finish, it won’t be the same as a new college graduate. I’m in the workforce, and I’m able to explore job opportunities here that will allow me to progress with BlueCross,” he says.