More than 65,000 veterans call West Michigan home. Within Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon and Allegan Counties, 77 percent are without a bachelor's degree.
Grand Valley State University is working to change those figures celebrating the opening of its Veterans Upward Bound Center. This is where veteran students can find assistance working toward completing their postsecondary educations.
Serving those who have served a nation is the mission of Grand Valley State University’s Veterans Upward Bound Program. Last year, through the U.S. Department of Education, the university received a $1.3 million grant establishing what’s called a Trio Veterans Upward Bound Program. Those dollars will establish free academic support to125 low-income veterans from Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon and Allegan counties.
As Grand Valley State University President Thomas Haas explains, this is an opportunity to develop skills to for success, “And using the G.I. benefits that they have earned, but then provide them the skill base so they can be successful while they’re here, or at a community college or some other opportunity at another four year, but nonetheless it’s providing those skill so that they can be successful and then go on into a career, go on to serving in their communities as leaders.”
Samantha Rose is an Army Veteran, graduate student and president of the GVSU Chapter of Student Veterans of America.
“The Veterans Upward Bound Program has the potential to impact 76 percent of veterans over the age of 25 living in West Michigan that do not have a bachelor’s degree. Many of the veterans have parents that did not go to college as well. Like myself. So, they would be first generation college students. This program has the opportunity to not only raise up our West Michigan veterans into higher education, but it serves to improve the lives of future generations of West Michigan families.”
GVSU will provide advising and mentoring programs, instructor-led computer courses, course materials and supplies.
Patrick Center, WGVU News.