The Pat Tillman Foundation has named the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as a first-time University Partner, coinciding with the annual application process for the Tillman Military Scholarship.
The application process for the 6th class of scholars opened Feb. 7 and remains open until 11:59:59 p.m. EST, Thursday, March 6. The Tillman Military Scholarship is designed for eligible active-duty service members, veterans and military spouses. For specific details on eligibility and to apply online, visit www.PatTillmanFoundation.org/scholarship.
In 2013, Rae Anne Frey, a UWM PhD student in Educational Psychology, applied at-large for the scholarship’s 5th class. When selected, she became the first Tillman Military Scholar to attend school in Wisconsin. The selection process is highly competitive, with Frey among 60 Tillman Military Scholars chosen from a field of more than 5,000 applicants for the 2013-14 academic year. A native of Cadott, Wis., she served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army.
Frey has been meeting with groups of eligible students at the UWM Military and Veterans Resource Center to encourage them to apply for the scholarship. “It’s very competitive, but definitely worth giving it a shot,” she says.
Life is very busy for Frey, whose household includes her husband, an 8-month-old, a 2-year-old and a 17-year-old stepdaughter. She says that military service prepared her well for the demands of combining graduate school and family life. “This is definitely less stressful than being deployed!”
“UWM firmly believes in strength through partnerships,” says Chancellor Michael R. Lovell. “As a Pat Tillman Foundation University Partner institution, the university will be able to serve even better the state’s largest concentration of military personnel, veterans and dependents as they pursue their educational goals.”
Since 2008, the foundation has joined with University Partners who offer innovative, veteran-specific services and a proven culture of support for student veterans and military spouses. UWM’s support for military and veteran students has grown substantially with the creation of a Veterans Advisory Council, the foundation of a student veteran organization and the opening of the Military and Veterans Resource Center.
“The campus-wide movement for military and student veterans aims to ensure we are supporting each of our students during their transition, leading to higher satisfaction, engagement and graduation rates,” says Michael Kirchner, interim director of the Military and Veterans Resource Center (MAVRC).
For the 2014-15 academic year, the foundation added University Partners Georgetown University, Indiana University and The Ohio State University, in addition to UWM. This brings the number of partner institutions to 15, including Arizona State University, Columbia University, The George Washington University, Texas A&M University, University of Alabama, University of Arizona, University of Maryland, University of Minnesota, University of Oregon, University of South Florida and University of Washington.
“The Tillman Military Scholars program unites the best talent and leadership from the military to make a significant, positive impact for our country and communities,” says Marie Tillman, president and co-founder of the Pat Tillman Foundation. “Every year, the foundation welcomes applicants who represent a rich and diverse set of backgrounds, experiences and ambitions. Tillman Military Scholars not only share Pat’s core values, strength of character and commitment to service in and out of uniform, but also the potential and desire to go out into the world and change it.”
For the current scholarship cycle, applicants will receive notification of selection results by e-mail no later than May 16. Scholarships will be granted for the 2014-2015 academic year and are eligible for renewal. To explore the profiles of current Tillman Military Scholars, visit www.PatTillmanFoundation.org/scholars.
