Penn State student DJ Ryan stood before a congressional committee Monday to share his federal aid story, emphasizing the program's importance to many students in the face of rising higher education costs.

The Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor and Pensions held a field hearing in Philadelphia on Monday, questioning students, parents and employees in higher education on the importance grants hold in facilitating higher education.

Ryan (junior-communication arts and sciences), who is the Campus of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG) governmental affairs director and CCSG liaison to the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA), spoke before the committee Monday.

While first uncomfortable with the concept of publicizing his personal financial situation, he said he now feels privileged in getting to share his story in an effort that could help a major portion of the student body.

"It a great opportunity for Penn State to get their name out there," Ryan said. "Penn State needs help just as much as any other school does."

In his testimony, Ryan talked about his own struggle to balance working to pay for school and attending classes. He attended Penn State Altoona his freshman year through grants, but came back home the next year and attended Penn State Greater Allegheny due to his family's financial burdens.

Now at University Park, Ryan works 20 hours a week in a work-study job on top of his classes and extracurricular activities. He said he needed the job to make up the costs his grants and loans do not cover.

"In college, you worry about tuition and so many other costs," Ryan said. "That's where the day-to-day expenses come in that make it very difficult."

Ryan was contacted by U.S. PIRG, the Federation of State Public Interest Research Groups -- a national network of state-based non-profit organizations that advocates for students' interests and other issues.

Rich Williams, U.S. PIRG's higher education associate in Washington, D.C., said his group is working with Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., to bring attention to issues like inadequate financial aid. As college costs continue to rise, many states like Pennsylvania have reduced their level of support, he said

"That leaves students to pick up the tab," Williams said, adding he sought out Ryan after reading his comments on a Facebook group.

Stephanie Zarecky, state press secretary to Casey, said the panel focused on the challenges faced by students and families who are burdened financially. UPUA Governmental Affairs Chairwoman Colleen Smith said she hopes Ryan's testimony will have a positive impact on the members of Congress who listened to it Monday.

"It will prove to them that students really do need some assistance and rely on those grants pretty heavily," Smith (sophomore-biology) said.