Administration

Communications

C-SC supports U.S. military members, veterans, dependents through scholarship program
Tuesday, December 13, 2011

CANTON, Mo. – Culver-Stockton College is a proud supporter of U.S. military personnel and veterans, and honors the service of past and present military members by participating in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program, which helps veterans, active military members and their dependents pursue a college degree.

Culver-Stockton awards up to 20 Yellow Ribbon grants each year to veterans approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In conjunction with Culver-Stockton’s institutional scholarship commitment, many Yellow Ribbon Program veterans will receive scholarships valued at half the total cost of tuition.

In the past two year, Culver-Stockton College has distributed ten Yellow Ribbon Program awards to veterans, active military members and their dependents. C-SC also encourages service men and women to take advantage of the numerous other educational opportunities and funding options provided through the U.S. military. Allen Searson, senior media communication major from Canton, Mo., began utilizing the financial assistance offered to military personnel following his service with the U.S. Air Force. “As a military veteran with a disability rating awarded to me, I was eligible to apply for the Veterans Rehabilitation and Employments (VR&E) program benefits. If granted the full benefits of the VR&E program, I could attend the college of my choice and the program would cover all tuition, books and supplies for my bachelor’s degree,” explains Searson. “Once approved by the Veterans Administration (VA), the choice of a college became rather simple. Culver-Stockton College was the only local college offering the specific physical education and health degree I desired. Other than a visit to the college in the fall of 2007, I had little knowledge of C-SC or Canton. All of that dramatically changed as I arrived on campus, started my freshman year, and began soaking into the local community. Although my major changed to communication, and I now live in town with my family, I can always credit my college education as one of my veterans' advantages,” continued Searson.

To qualify for the Yellow Ribbon program, veterans must have served an aggregate period of at least 36 months of active duty or have been honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability after September 10, 2001. The total benefits each student receives are based on the highest amount of tuition and fees charged for full-time undergraduate training at a public college or university in the state in which the student is enrolled. The VA also may provide a housing allowance and a stipend for books and supplies. Full details about eligibility and benefits are available on the VA website.

To participate in the Yellow Ribbon program, veterans must apply through the Department of Veterans Affairs. To study at Culver-Stockton, veterans also will need to apply and be accepted to C-SC. For more information on Culver-Stockton College’s participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program, call the C-SC Office of Financial Aid at (573) 288-6307.