SUNY Empire State College has launched a $1 million fundraising campaign to enhance financial aid and degree completion support for the college\u2019s students serving on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and their families. This is the largest campaign to support military-aligned students in the college\u2019s history, officials said.
\nSUNY Empire serves the largest population of veterans in the SUNY system, with more than 1,300 military-aligned and veteran students and their family members currently enrolled.
\n\u201cI want to personally thank the members of our college community for spearheading this important effort,\u201d said SUNY Empire State College President Jim Malatras. \u201cI am proud that we are launching this campaign to break down any and all barriers our military community faces toward degree completion.\u201d
\n\u201cThe state of New York is laser-focused on doing everything we can to help our nation\u2019s service members, veterans and their families,\u201d said retired Army Col. Jim McDonough, director of the state Division of Veterans\u2019 Services. \u201cWith this new $1 million campaign from SUNY Empire State College, the college is truly leading the way in providing educational supports for our military members and, critically, for their families, who are too often overlooked. I commend them for this ambitious effort to give back to those who give so much to our country.\u201d
\n\u201cWe owe more than we could ever give to the members of our country\u2019s Armed Forces \u2013 but the best way to begin that repayment is through action,\u201d said Aaron Gladd, SUNY Empire\u2019s chief of staff and an Army platoon leader and veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom. \u201cWith this campaign, SUNY Empire State College reaffirms its commitment and I\u2019m proud to be part of the team announcing the largest ever scholarship goal for veterans and their families in the history of the college.\u201d
\n\u201cSupporting veterans and their family members has always been an important part of SUNY Empire\u2019s mission,\u201d said Desiree Drindak, director of SUNY Empire\u2019s Office of Veteran and Military Education. \u201cI am proud so many members and friends of the college community showed their support for our campaign kick-off on Sunday, and I hope they continue to participate as we pursue our $1 million goal.\u201d
\nTo learn more or make a gift, visit esc.edu\/militarygiving.
\nMore than 1,300 active-duty military and veteran students, and their family members, are currently enrolled at SUNY Empire State College, officials said. The college supports veterans, Guard, Reserve, and active-duty military with special tuition rates and by waiving most fees, an overall culture supportive of veterans and members of the military through military advising, as well as education partnerships with military and veteran organizations and the SALUTE National Honor Society. The college also grants academic credit for college-level military training recommended by the American Council on Education.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SUNY Empire State College has launched a $1 million fundraising campaign to enhance financial aid and degree completion support for the college\u2019s students serving on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and their families. This is the largest campaign to support military-aligned students in the college\u2019s history, officials said. SUNY Empire serves the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":196,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\r\n