Monday, November 10, 2008
SDSU Veterans Receive $100,000 from Wal-Mart Foundation
The grant will support student veterans and the SDSU Troops to College program.
Student Veterans Organization President Ivo Moreno and SDSU President Stephen L. Weber cut the ribbon at the Veterans Center grand opening earlier this semester.
The Wal-Mart Foundation awarded San Diego State University a $100,000 grant to support its student veterans and the Troops to College program.
Serving SDSU's vetarans
SDSU was chosen as one of 10 higher education institutions to receive the funding as a result of its successful veteran educational assistance program.
The grants will support the development of these programs and provide resources to assist veterans with access to education, adjustment to civilian life and success in completing their degrees.
SDSU recently opened its new Veterans Center to support the nearly 1,000 veteran and active-duty military students on campus, the largest veteran-student population in California.
Troops to College
The Troops to College program is a statewide initiative among the Governor's Office, the U.S. military, the California State University system, University of California and community colleges to enhance opportunities for active-duty military and veterans to attend college in California.
"This support will have an incredible impact on the scholarships, resources and programs available to SDSU's veteran-students," said Mary Ruth Carleton, vice president of University Relations and Development.
The Campanile Foundation, SDSU's fundraising arm, has raised more than $50,000 for the Troops to College program to date. Its goal is to raise $250,000 to provide scholarships and book vouchers to veteran-students as well as support the Student Veterans Organization.
About U.S. veterans
In 2009, it is estimated that the number of veterans in the United States will rise to more than 375,000.
To help meet the needs of those veterans, the 21st Century G.I. Bill was signed into law on June 30. The GI Bill will provide veterans the financial means to attend any public college in the nation as well as benefits for those who choose to attend private colleges.
Veterans are entitled to receive the cost of tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance, yearly books and supplies and a one-time re-locating fee to those moving from highly rural areas.