This is a story that aired on OETA Public Television's The Oklahoma News Report in Tulsa Oklahoma as reported by Cathy Tatom and photojournalist Edwin Wilson. For more information or to contact us, please go to the new and improved www.oeta.tv
The verbatim script follows below...
MANY RETURNING SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN NEED HELP PAYING TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION. THEY'D ALSO LIKE A CHANCE TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH FELLOW VETERANS. AS OETA'S CATHY TATOM REPORTS, THIS FALL, THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA OFFERS VETS BOTH.
ISSAC SHIELDS AND RYAN POWELL WENT TO WAR AFTER 9-11 TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY.
Ryan Powell/Nursing Student: "I was gone for about 5 years as an officer in the Marines." SHIELDS STILL SERVES IN THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD. EACH HAD MULTIPLE TOURS OF DUTY IN IRAQ. NOW BOTH ARE ENROLLED IN THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA. POWELL IS FINISHING UP HIS NURSING DEGREE. AND SHEILD'S IS IN LAW SCHOOL. HE EVEN GOT MARRIED ON CAMPUS. WHEN FALL CLASSES BEGIN T-U WILL BE THANKING VETS FOR THIER SERVICE BY GIVING THEM A SPECIAL PLACE ON CAMPUS TO GATHER AND STUDY. THE SCHWAB VETERAN'S RESOURCE CENTER IS NAMED FOR TULSA'S ONLY MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT, FORMER T-U STUDENT, PRIVATE ALBERT E. SCHWAB.
Ryan Powell/Nursing Student: "It looks like just a good quiet place where we can sit down and watch TV and chat with other veterans that have shared some of the same experiences." THE VETERANS LOUNGE IS A COZY DEN ADORNED WITH FLAGS FROM ALL BRANCHES OF THE MILITARY, A U-S FLAG THAT ONCE FLEW IN IRAQ, AND IT IS STOCKED WITH TREATS COURTESY OF THE BLUE STAR MOTHERS.
Teresa Nightingale/Blue Star Moms: "So when the veterans come in to kick back they have a little snack, something to read and a little bit of time to enjoy themselves."
Issac Shields/Law Student: "When people spend a lot of their spare time to try to demonstrate gratitude I can't even describe how wonderful that feels."
"The lounge isn't the only thing the University of Tulsa is doing to make it easier for returning veterans to continue their education." THIS FALL, IT'S PARTICIPATING IN THE YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM TO OFFER QUALIFYING VETERANS FREE TUITION. Paula Hogard: "Veterans who served in active duty post 911 can qualify if they have 36 months of active duty service." THE YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM IS AN EXTENSION OF THE POST 9-11 G-I BILL THAT LETS PRIVATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OFFER FREE TUITION TO VETS JUST LIKE PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES. ALONG WITH FREE TUITION, T-U IS HELPING VETS ENROLLED IN ITS COURSES WITH OTHER EXPENSES.
Paula Hogard/University of Tulsa: "They will get a housing stipend, and an annual stipend for textbooks as well."
Issac Shields/Law Student: "The availability for me to have these different allocations of funds allows me to pursue a graduate degree and professional training that will allow me in turn to provide for my family." AND THAT'S ONE OF THE BEST THANK YOUS HE AND OTHER VETERANS CAN GET FOR SERVING THEIR COUNTRY. AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA, I'M CATHY TATOM, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.
Loading...
2:19
Student Veterans at UCSB newscastby hadley96d370 views
All Comments