Irrelevant. His commitment to the good stuff is all that counts.
One example of Penn State’s commitment to military veterans, service members and their families is the Seats for Service Members Program, which provided complimentary tickets to active duty, guard and reserve military, veterans, and fallen and Gold Stars families for the Penn State football game (Oct. 27) against Iowa. Over 6,000 seats were donated by Penn Staters, community members and businesses for these heroes. And, a host of volunteers in the hundreds worked tirelessly to make the
Military Appreciation Tailgate an extraordinary event. I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to all of the volunteers, organizers and donors who made our Military Appreciation events possible.
Listen to his talk -
At the Military Appreciation Tailgate, I had the privilege of meeting a veteran of World War II. He was so proud and so pleased to be with us for the tailgate and game. He told me attending the event was a dream come true, and it was the best day he could remember having in a very long time. It was our honor to host him and recognize his service, along with so many other heroes.
At Penn State, our connections to the armed services run long and deep. Ever since 1863 when Penn State took on its role as Pennsylvania’s sole land-grant university, our relationship with the military has been part of our DNA. Military science and training have an important place in our curriculum, and the University continues a strong tradition of supporting the military community.
Veterans have had a profound impact on our institution over the years. Several of our past presidents were veterans, including George Atherton, John Fraser and James Beaver, who served in the Civil War. They all played a key role in shaping our college as a land-grant institution. Presidents John Oswald and Bryce Jordan served in World War II and helped Penn State grow through the 1970s and 80s.
Not only did the University’s veteran leaders have an impact, but so have our student veterans. After World War II, Penn State reserved student slots for our returning veterans. In 1946, 55 percent of Penn State’s full-time students were veterans and that number increased to 80 percent by the fall of 1947. The personal qualities and life experiences that student veterans brought with them to Penn State, and the second order benefits of the G.I. Bill, led to the greatest expansion of higher education in this country.
Today, more than 5,600 military-connected students are taking advantage of G.I. Bill benefits at our University, and Penn State has one of the largest, oldest and most successful ROTC programs in the nation.
Penn State also is one of the leading research universities associated with the federal Department of Defense. Our faculty, students and staff conduct about $200 million a year in defense-related research. As a result of our long record of outstanding work, the U.S. Navy recently awarded a 10-year, $2.1 billion contract to the Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State — to conduct research and development to improve U.S. national security.
Penn State is consistently ranked as a military-friendly institution. For veteran students at every Penn State campus and online through the World Campus, the University offers peer counseling services and assists with VA benefits, the college application process, financial aid and living arrangements through our Office of Veterans Programs. We’re proud of that ranking, and we’re proud of our role in preparing those who serve and protect our nation.
Our student veterans and service members enrich our University with their diverse life experiences and with their demonstration of the true meaning of hard work and sacrifice. Thank you for your service and for being a part of Penn State.
