Cayla Kelly always knew she wanted to go back to school but never thought it was something she could achieve. When she started her career at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) as a customer service representative, she saw an opportunity to earn her first bachelor’s degree through the company’s tuition reimbursement program.
“It was always a desire I had deep down,” said Kelly, now a provider executive support specialist at BCBSNE. “Blue Cross announced an improved tuition reimbursement program in 2021, and my supervisor at the time encouraged me to look into it and go back to school. I didn’t let myself overthink it before turning in my application.”
Kelly submitted her application for a degree in health care administration at the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC), one of BCBSNE’s tuition reimbursement partners, to help her grow and give her a better perspective of her role. “I got an email not long after I submitted my application that had my starting date and said, ‘Welcome to class,’” Kelly said, adding that the partnership between BCBSNE and UAGC made it easy to balance school, work, and her personal life because the process was so straightforward. Once her classes began, all she had to do was submit her grades to maintain her tuition reimbursement benefits. In 2023, Kelly became the first person in her family to graduate college—debt free.
“It’s given me a better perspective on how to serve,” Kelly said. “Not just in my position at Blue Cross but as a whole. Having this degree changed my mindset on how I can be there for people.” To continue that mindset and focus on helping those around her, Kelly went back to school for her master’s degree, again through BCBSNE’s tuition reimbursement program. “Getting my bachelor’s really built my confidence and showed me I could do anything,” Kelly said. “Being the first in my family to graduate and making an impact in my community was also a driving force. I have so many people who look up to me, and I feel committed to continuing that impact.”
The support of her BCBSNE team made the decision to pursue her master’s degree an easy one. Earlier this year, she walked the graduation stage at the University of Arizona to receive her master’s degree in health care administration. “Everyone at BCBSNE was so invested in how my classes and school were going,” Kelly said. “The cherry on top was when they surprised me with my favorite cake, a gift, and a graduation party at one of our team meetings.”
Now, fully equipped with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree, Kelly said she’s not done.
“If I could do it, anybody can,” Kelly said. “I don’t see a ceiling to what I can achieve at Blue Cross or anywhere else. There’s so much information at our fingertips that can help us succeed if you look for it. The sky’s the limit.” Learn more about BCBSNE’s benefits at NebraskaBlue.com/Careers.
