The Latest Champion News

1989

1999

2000

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

• Is the Wicked Witch Really Dead? A Gainful Employment Epic

2016

• Defense to Repayment Regulations: June 2016 Champion Comments Submitted July 26, 2016 
• Hammer Hopes to Educate the Public, Inspire Educational Reform in “Injustice for All”

1989

• U.S. Department of Education’s publication recognized the outstanding results in Default Management accomplished by Mary Lyn Hammer in her capacity as Default Manager at the Al Collins Graphic Design School.
• National Association of Trade & Technical Schools’ “Member of the Year” nominations included Ms. Hammer.
• Active participation by Ms. Hammer with the U.S. Department of Education’s Secretary of Education to write regulatory language for “Appendix D,” the federal regulatory requirement that was in effect from 1989 to 1996. The language is still included in federal regulations under “Subpart M” for federal student loans.

 1996

• Hands On, Inc. received a “No Findings” result for its only required third-party attestation audit performed by Weworski and Associates.

1997

• Arizona Private School Association’s “Outstanding Associate Member” award was given to Ms. Hammer, Hands On, Inc.

1999

• Ms. Hammer represented the Career College Association’s 1400 member schools as an alternate negotiator in the U.S. Department of Education’s Negotiated Rulemaking process for loan issues.
• Arizona Private School Association’s “Best Associate Member Participation” award was given to Ms. Hammer, Hands On, Inc.

2000

• Ms. Hammer represented the Career College Association’s 1400 member schools as the primary negotiator in the U.S. Department of Education’s Negotiated Rulemaking process for the “rewrite” of the cohort default rate and loan issues federal regulatory language, including criteria for appealing cohort default rates.
• National Register’s Who’s Who, Honored Professional, published recognition for Ms. Hammer. Wall Street Journal’s “Businessman of the Year for Arizona” was awarded to Ms. Hammer.
• Career College Association’s “CCAPAC Award of Excellence” was awarded to Ms. Hammer. CCAPAC is a fundraiser to represent CCA’s member schools and students in their support of key members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate for higher education issues and concerns.
• Career College Foundation recognized Hands On, Inc. for its support as a sponsor of the CCF Gala, a fundraiser for post-secondary education scholarships.
• The Career College Associations’ Allied Members elected Ms. Hammer to be their representative on CCA’s Board of Directors.
• Career College Association recognized Ms. Hammer “In appreciation for Service on the CCA Board of Directors.”
• Career College Association recognized Hands On, Inc. as the “CCAPAC Sponsor.”
• Career College Foundation recognized Hands On, Inc. for its support as a sponsor of the CCF Gala, a fundraiser for post-secondary education scholarships.
• The Career College Associations’ Allied Members elected Ms. Hammer to be their representative on CCA’s Board of Directors.

 2002

• Career College Association recognized Ms. Hammer “In appreciation for Service on the CCA Board of Directors.”
• Career College Association recognized Hands On, Inc. as the “CCAPAC Sponsor.”
• Career College Foundation recognized Hands On, Inc. for its support as a sponsor of the CCF Gala, a fundraiser for post-secondary education scholarships.
• Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools & Colleges recognized Hands On, Inc. “In appreciation, Sponsor Annual Conference.”

2003

• Career College Association recognized Hands On, Inc. as the “CCAPAC Sponsor.”
• Career College Foundation recognized Hands On, Inc. “In appreciation of your support of the CCF Gala.”
• Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools & Colleges recognized Hands On, Inc. “In appreciation, Bronze Sponsor Annual Conference.”

 2004

• Career College Association recognized Hands On, Inc. as the “CCAPAC Sponsor.”
• Career College Foundation recognized Hands On, Inc. for its support as a sponsor of the CCF Gala, a fundraiser for post-secondary education scholarships.

2005

• Career College Association awarded the “National Achievement Award for Outstanding Allied Member” to Ms. Hammer, Champion College Solutions, and Hands On, Inc.
• Career College Association recognized Champion College Solutions as the “CCAPAC Sponsor.”
• Career College Foundation recognized Champion College Solutions for its support as a sponsor of the CCF Gala, a fundraiser for post-secondary education scholarships.
• Career College Foundation recognized Champion College Solutions as a founding member for the Gail Benjamin Foundation, a fundraiser for continued education of women professionals in higher education. Ms. Hammer also participates on the selection committee for the education grants awarded.
• The Washington Federation of Private Career Schools & Colleges appointed Ms. Hammer to their Board of Directors.

2006

• The Career College Associations’ Allied Members elected Ms. Hammer to be their representative on CCA’s Board of Directors.
• Career College Association recognized Champion College Solutions as the “CCAPAC Sponsor.”
• Imagine America Foundation, formerly the Career College Foundation, recognized Champion College Solutions for its support as a sponsor of the IAF Gala, a fundraiser for post-secondary education scholarships.
• Imagine America Foundation recognized Champion College Solutions for its continued support for the Gail Benjamin Foundation.
• As a Charter Member, Ms. Hammer helped organize and launch the Higher Education for Allied Health Leaders (HEAL) Coalition, representing colleges offering allied health education in Washington D.C. After organizing the HEAL Coalition, Ms. Hammer was appointed Chairwoman of the Board.
• The Northwest Career Colleges Federation, formerly the Washington Federation of Private Career Schools & Colleges, reappointed Ms. Hammer to their Board of Directors.
• Imagine America Foundation recognized Champion College Solutions for its support as a sponsor of the IAF Gala, a fundraiser for post-secondary education scholarships.
• Imagine America Foundation recognized Champion College Solutions for its continued support for the Gail Benjamin Foundation.

2007

• The Northwest Career Colleges Federation, formerly the Washington Federation of Private Career Schools & Colleges, reappointed Ms. Hammer to their Board of Directors.
• The Career College Associations’ Allied Members elected Ms. Hammer to be their representative on CCA’s Board of Directors.
• Imagine America Foundation recognized Champion College Solutions for its support as a sponsor of the IAF Gala, a fundraiser for post-secondary education scholarships.

2008

• The Arizona Private School Association recognized Champion College Solutions and Ms. Hammer as “Best Associate Member.”
• The Northwest Career Colleges Federation, formerly the Washington Federation of Private Career Schools & Colleges, reappointed Ms. Hammer to their Board of Directors.
• Career College Association recognized Ms. Hammer “In appreciation for Service on the CCA Board of Directors.”
• Imagine America Foundation recognized Champion College Solutions for its support as a sponsor of the IAF Gala, a fundraiser for post-secondary education scholarships.
• Ms. Hammer was instrumental in changing legislation in the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (H.R. 4137) that was signed into law on August 18, 2008. She fought against the increased definition for Cohort Default Rates and, while unsuccessful at getting repeal, she provided expert advice and nationwide leadership to change the legislation, which successfully
  • changed the original language in H.R. 4137 that was passed through the U.S House Education and Labor Committee from a 4-year definition to a 3-year definition.
  • added legislation that allows institutions who are subject to losing Title IV eligibility for Federal Student Loans and Grants to include provisions for continued eligibility with a measureable default management program that is approved by the Secretary.
  • added legislation that increases the threshold for loss of Title IV eligibility from 25% to 30%.
  • added legislation that increases the 3-year maximum CDR qualification for disbursement benefits from 10% to 15%. These benefits allow a waiver for the 30-day delayed certification for first-time student loan borrowers and allow institutions to receive all Title IV loan and grant money in one (1) disbursement instead of multiple disbursements. Both benefits have a tremendous positive outcome for cash flow at institutions.
  • changed the original language in H.R. 4137 that was passed through the full U.S. House of Representatives to streamline the 3-year CDR definition effective date with the increase in threshold from 25% to 30%. As originally written, the 3-year definition would have been in effect a year prior to the increase in threshold.

2009

• Ms. Hammer represented third-party servicers and the American Association of Cosmetology Schools’ member schools as the primary negotiator in the U.S. Department of Education’s Negotiated Rulemaking process for Team II: School-loan Issues, including developing regulatory language for entrance counseling, exit counseling, required disclosures, preferred lender lists, code of conduct for the PPAs, cohort default rates and other related topics.
• Ms. Hammer testified both orally and in writing for the U.S. Department of Education field hearings for upcoming negotiated rulemaking. Her testimony included requests for additional CDR appeal options and professional judgment for schools to reduce burdensome student loan debt for their students.
• The Northwest Career Colleges Federation, formerly the Washington Federation of Private Career Schools & Colleges, reappointed Ms. Hammer to their Board of Directors.
• Imagine America Foundation recognized Champion College Services for its support as a sponsor of the IAF Gala, a fundraiser for post-secondary education scholarships.

2010

• The Northwest Career Colleges Federation reappointed Ms. Hammer to their Board of Directors.
• Imagine America Foundation recognized Champion College Services for its support as a sponsor of the IAF Gala, a fundraiser for post-secondary education scholarships.

2011

• Ms. Hammer testified both orally and in writing for the U.S. Department of Education field hearings for upcoming negotiated rulemaking. Her testimony included requests for access to pertinent student loan data for default prevention and gainful employment management and reporting, professional judgment for schools to reduce burdensome student loan debt for their students, additional CDR appeal options and suggestions for improvement for rehabilitation, IBR/ICR repayment, student benefits and incentives, and program participation.
• The Northwest Career Colleges Federation reappointed Ms. Hammer to their Board of Directors.
• Imagine America Foundation recognized Champion College Services for its support as a sponsor of the Beach Boys Concert, a fundraiser for post-secondary education scholarships.