Two programs to help veterans go to school start soon
| Saturday, Jul 11 2009 12:02 PM
Last Updated Saturday, Jul 11 2009 12:02 PM
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Read details of the Yellow Ribbon Program and the Post-9/11 GI Bill and determine your eligibility: https://www.gibill.va.gov/
Anita Orr has always been in the service of helping people.
She served in the Army for four years, spending three of those years stationed in Korea.
When she left the Army in 2005, she wanted to go to college to become a social worker.
Now, the federal government is providing more ways to help student veterans, like Orr, reach their goals.
Two programs aimed at assisting student veterans financially take effect Aug. 1: the Yellow Ribbon Program and the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
The new GI Bill, which is only for veterans who served after 9/11, covers tuition and fees for veterans to attend the most expensive public college in their state. The bill also provides a housing allowance and a book stipend of $1,000. Payment amounts depend on the veteran's length of service and where they choose to attend school, depending on the state.
"I've already done my GI bill, but I'm excited for the people who can benefit from it," Orr said.
Of course, some veterans may choose a college that costs more than what the GI Bill covers.
For them, the Yellow Ribbon Program can help. That's where the government will match any financial aid participating colleges give to veterans that exceeds what is covered by the GI Bill.
Cal State Bakersfield and Bakersfield College aren't eligible to participate in Yellow Ribbon because fees are already covered by the GI Bill.
However, according to the Yellow Ribbon Program's Web site, three area schools have signed up to be part of the program: DeVry University, Kaplan College and Santa Barbara Business College.
"We're currently servicing veterans using the GI Bill now," said Andrea Georges, fiscal officer for Santa Barbara Business College, "and we've been very successful and so have the students. So we figured, let's try this."
Each participating school determines how much they're willing to contribute. For example, Santa Barbara Business College in Bakersfield has chosen to contribute $4,000 for each of 50 students.
The city's Kaplan College will provide $8,000 for each of 29 student veterans.
"Compared to other VA benefits, (Yellow Ribbon Program) is gong to be so beneficial for our students who are eligible," said Stephanie Devers, director of finance at Bakersfield's Kaplan College.
Officials at several of these colleges say there are some student veterans who do not identify themselves. For example, Bakersfield College has about 500 identified student veterans, but there could easily be three times that number, said spokeswoman Amber Chiang.
And besides missing out on financial assistance, unidentified students may miss out on services many colleges provide for veterans, such as counseling and support groups.
In fact, the Office of Veterans Affairs drew Orr to CSUB.
"When we first got here, we felt lost. We didn't have friends or family in the area," Orr said of her and her husband, both of whom moved to Bakersfield from Washington.
She said the Veterans Affairs staff "informed us of everything."
She has found Veterans Affairs to be so helpful, she now works there, helping others.
"Things aren't right in your face all the time," Orr said. "To stay in the know, you need to have a good network system."
