EUGENE, Ore.—"How to Pay for College In One Day" sounded like a good idea to Hanna Achepohl.

Already enrolled at Lane Community College to train for a new career in culinary arts after years of working in the grocery industry, Hanna heard about the college's annual scholarship event, offered in partnership with College Goal Oregon, and decided to attend. Going back to college in her mid-40s was exciting, but she was worried about finances. The workshop changed everything.

Hanna discovered dozens of scholarships that she hadn't known existed. Friendly staff helped her sort through the options and complete applications. She ended up applying for 77 scholarships, spending about 80 hours filling out forms and writing essays. It was better to apply for scholarships than pay off loans, she figured.

It was a winning approach.

Hanna won enough scholarships to pay for tuition, fees, books, and culinary supplies. That support, combined with part-time work, enabled Hanna to earn two degrees and eight specialty certificates and graduate debt free. That's remarkable when the average student leaves college with $29,000 in debt, according to the College Access & Success Project on Student Debt.

She didn't stop there. She saw a flier for a job fair at Lane held for the Waterford Grand, a residential community that opened in Eugene fall 2014 to offer senior living options from independent apartments to assisted living to memory care, including amenities such as a restaurant, bistro and demonstration kitchen for cooking classes for residents. Hanna applied and was hired as the Waterford's sous chef.

Her LCC credentials gave her the edge, she says.

She loves the work and has helped hire even more Lane graduates. The Waterford kitchen now employs seven LCC students, four of whom are culinary and hospitality graduates. Other Lane grads found jobs there too, such as Don Bitle, who earned his exercise and movement science degree at Lane and now runs the Waterford's fitness and recreation program.

"Partnerships like Lane has with the Waterford Grand benefit students, employers and the community," says Patrick O'Connor, division dean at Lane who oversees culinary and advanced technology programs and services. "Partnerships help us train students, help graduates find jobs, provide employers with a skilled workforce, and boost the local economy."

Hanna says that if you want a college degree or a rewarding career, one of the best things you can do is attend the "How to Pay for College In One Day" workshop. This year's event is Saturday, January 10, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Center for Meeting and Learning, Building 19, Lane main campus. It's free, thanks to support from Northwest Community Credit Union.

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•  How to Pay for College In One Day scholarship workshop
•  Waterford Grand