The University of West Florida Student Government Association teamed up with Student Savings Club, Inc. to create a student discount card good at several area businesses. Former student body vice president Joe Schlosser worked to create the tri-fold, wallet-sized discount card.

The cards provide students with discounts from 39 different stores offering a wide range of services.

“If students can get out and support businesses that support us, then the Pensacola area will come to embrace UWF, and we will all grow as a community,” said Aaron Epstein, current UWF student body vice president.

"We took input from the Pensacola Junior College staff as well as SGA students on campus during the summer,” he said.

PJC provides similar cards to their student body.

“By working with the Student Savings Club we were able to suggest businesses to them and they handled the sales and negotiations to get the merchants on board,” Epstein said.

With the card, students can receive discounts on purchases at restaurants Baskin-Robbins, Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs, Los Rancheros Mexican Restaurant, Schlotzsky’s Deli and Steak N’ Shake. Students can also take advantage of discounts offered on automotive services, clothing, furniture, fitness, recreation, financial services, health services, wireless services and lodging.

“It seems like a good idea, but I didn’t know about them,” said Eliana Bautista, freshman criminal justice major.

At the beginning of the year, the project’s distribution and advertising is given to the Freshmen Committee. The committee is composed of incoming freshmen selected by the SGA every fall semester.

After Hurricane Ivan, everything was pushed back, including the selection of the committee.

“This would get them acclimated to the campus, in touch with area and department leaders, and allow them to instantly effect the student body,” Epstein said.

The SGA did not want to take the project away from the committee so the members decided to postpone the project until the committee could get involved.

“Be on the look out for cards in the coming weeks,” Epstein said. “This upcoming week you will see signs and posters identifying where new locations are as the cards are rolled out.”

Students can pick up the free discount cards in the SGA Office and the Commons service desk. Enough cards were printed to cover every faculty, staff and students at UWF.

“This program was offered free to the University by the Student Savings Club,” Epstein said.

Student government did not work with any other campus organizations to provide students with these free cards.

“If we run low, they will reprint the cards for free,” he said.

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