Tillman Scholar Applications for Military Veterans Being Accepted at UW

February 23, 2012

Applications are now being accepted for Tillman Military Scholars awards at the University of Wyoming. All military veterans and their spouses are urged to apply.

UW, a partner institution with the Pat Tillman Foundation that funds the awards, is one of 14 universities serving as a Tillman Military Scholar University Partner. UW is the only institution in the Rocky Mountain region selected. University Partners are selected based on their innovative service member-specific support services and proven culture of community for military families.

"If you are attending UW, your application will receive careful consideration by the selection committee," says Dolores Cardona, UW associate dean of students who chaired a task force two years ago that reviewed the needs of military veterans on campus.

Current Tillman Scholar recipient Robert Niezwaag, a UW master's degree candidate in social work from Riverton, along with Cardona, will host an information session about the program from 4-5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27. The session will be in the Veterans Service Center, Knight Hall Room 241.

Eligibility for the Tillman award is open to veterans and active duty military service members of both pre- and post-9/11 service; from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, including service in the National Guard and Reserve; and spouses of active or veteran service members, including surviving spouses seeking assistance to pursue an undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate degree as a full-time student.

To apply for the Tillman Scholars award, visit the website at http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/tillman-military-scholars/

To date, 171 Tillman Military Scholars -- representing 32 states and attending 59 institutions nationwide -- have been awarded more than $2.2 million in scholarship support.

Three currently enrolled UW students were the first recipients of the award: Niezwaag; Nichole Juliano, a mathematics major from Mill Village, Pa.; and Meghan Lucas, an international relations/political science major from Wichita, Texas. More than 300 military veterans are receiving some type of financial support at UW, Cardona says.

As a University Partner, each institution conducts outreach to its veteran and military dependent student population, and actively participates in the Tillman Military Scholar selection process. Upon selection of Tillman Military Scholars on campus, each then supports the building and strengthening of community among the students, enhancing their academic and personal experiences, Cardona says.

The Pat Tillman Foundation in 2008 established the Tillman Military Scholars program to support educational opportunities for service members and military families by bridging the financial gaps left by the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. In addition to tuition and fees, the scholarship covers other areas such as housing and child care.

The Tillman scholars program is in memory of former Arizona Cardinals defensive back Pat Tillman. In 2002, Tillman put his NFL career on hold to serve his country. Following Tillman's death, which occurred while he was serving with the 75th Army Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan in 2004, his family and friends established the Pat Tillman Foundation. The Foundation invests in veterans and their families through education, community and advocacy.

For more information about the scholarship and UW's Veterans Services Center, contact Cardona at (307) 766-6228 or e-mail cardona@uwyo.edu.

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