KGO Radio Reports on Veterans at SMC

KGO News Radio reporter Leslie Brinkley visited Saint Mary's to report on the uptick of student veterans on the campus. In 2008, the College had only 12 student veterans, in 2011 the number has nearly tripled to 34. The uptick is attributable to an increase in higher education benefits for U.S. service men and women.

About a third of those attending SMC are covered by the Yellow Ribbon GI Bill program, which funds tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition, and Saint Mary's covers 50% of a veteran's costs (tuition, books and fees), and the Veterans Administration picks up the rest.

Among other things, Yellow Ribbon vets must have served an aggregate of active duty after September 10, 2001, of at least 36 months. The rest of the student veterans at SMC receive tuition assistance through the other forms of GI bills, including the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

KGO's Brinkley interviewed Lyone Conner, Assistant Registrar and Veteran Benefits Coordinator for the College and Issaac Morton, an economics major and an Iraq war veteran for the news story.

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News & Politics

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