EUGENE,
Ore. -- (Sept. 12, 2011) - The University of Oregon has been identified as a top military friendly school by G.I. Jobs
magazine. The honor puts the UO in the top 20 percent of colleges,
universities and trade schools nationwide, according to the magazine's
announcement today.
The UO
provides support services to military veterans and family members and is one
of 12 universities serving as a Tillman Military Scholar University Partner for
the 2011-2012 academic year. University
Partners
are selected based on their innovative service member-specific support services
and proven culture of community for military families.
Five
University of Oregon students were
awarded a total of $29,000 in scholarships from the Tillman Military
Scholars for the 2011-2012 academic year.
Jeff
Meray and Ryan Williams received scholarships
for the 2010-11 academic year from the Pat
Tillman Foundation, and Bryan
Boender, Samuel
Bennett and Kelly Christensen were renewed scholars from the previous academic
year.
The organization was established in honor of the NFL player who left his
athletic career to serve in the U.S. Army and was killed in Afghanistan.
The scholarships go beyond
traditional study-related expenses such as tuition, fees and books. Applicants
can request assistance for room and board and other basic needs, including
child care, medical expenses or others that may be considered barriers to
reaching academic goals set by military veterans and family members.
Scholarship recipients must maintain academic standards and are expected to
contribute hours of service in their local communities.
"The UO provides many services to
military veterans and families, which in part is what led to the recognition on
the top military friendly school list and our association with the Tillman
Foundation," said Gretchen Jewett, director of nontraditional and veterans
education support. "We are part of a supportive community and aim to help all
students achieve success on campus."
The UO started a Veteran Friendly Listener Program in 2009. The program includes a
network of 50 faculty and staff who are resources for veteran students to seek
out for information and conversation on topics related to academics, post
graduation planning, transitions and their veteran student experiences.
In addition, the UO's Office of
Veteran Affairs provides eligible student veterans, reservists and dependents
with educational benefits as regulated by the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs, and a veterans service officer is located on the UO campus to provide
assistance to students seeking VA benefits that are non-education related.
About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is among the
108 institutions chosen from 4,633 U.S. universities for top-tier designation
of "Very High Research Activity" in the 2010 Carnegie Classification
of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO also is one of two Pacific Northwest
members of the Association of American Universities.
MEDIA
CONTACT: Julie
Brown, 541-346-3185, julbrown@uoregon.edu
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