Issue date: 5/13/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Schureman, Shannon Three sophomore ROTC students, Pfc. De Rosa and cadets Hoggle and Newell, take notes during a lecture on leadership Monday afternoon in the Academic Information Resource Center. [Click to enlarge]

Veterans attending Sacramento State next fall will be able to receive more financial aid. The Veterans Affairs Office is now offering a $1,000 "Troops to College" scholarship.

The scholarship was created to help veterans pay for books and other expenses that go along with attending college. Weston said that the G.I. bill does not cover all of the expenses these students have.

The new scholarship is part of the Troops to College program on campus, which offers assistance to all student veterans. It was funded by donations from private individuals and local businesses, including Safe Credit Union.

Program coordinator Jeff Weston said the office hopes to be able to offer this scholarship continually by fundraising locally every year. So far $150,000 has been raised for the scholarship fund this year.

"We don't know how many applicants we are going to select yet," Weston said. "I want to see how many applications we get and make a decision based on that."

The applicants need to have proof of military service and write an essay explaining their financial need.

This scholarship funding is independent of the Troops to College program at Sac State since local businesses and individuals donated the money. The Troops to College program was created by the state Legislature and is run statewide in all California State University campuses. The State this program is designed to ease the transition from being an active duty soldier to a student.

The Montgomery G.I. Bill is the traditional benefit that many veterans have received in the past while attending college. The military is now offering the post-9/11 G.I. Bill that has added benefits for veterans.

"This program is so much better," said Janea Donaldson, junior business administration major and Air Force veteran. "Instead of paying all of my tuition and fees upfront and waiting to get reimbursed, all of my fees will be paid for me directly."

Donaldson said for students with families this is an added perk because it can be hard to come up with all of that money and wait to get paid back.

"The goal is to increase awareness on campus," Weston said. "The office has moved to a much more student friendly location."

The Veterans Affairs Office, formerly housed in Admissions and Records, is now located on the third floor of Lassen Hall.

Eligible veterans can apply for this scholarship until June 23.

Crystal Kirk can be reached at ckirk@statehornet.com.

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