Nazareth's Yellow Ribbon Program for veterans and dependents now includes graduate students
Rochester, NY (04/26/2023) — Nazareth is expanding its participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program for veterans and dependents to include Nazareth graduate and certificate students in fall 2023. Nazareth already provides funding to unlimited eligible students for undergraduate studies.
Nazareth College participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which makes additional funds available to qualifying students on top of the typical Veterans Administration, or VA, amount. This program provides eligible full-time undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students up to $7,500 per year, matched by the VA. These amounts together, on top of the typical VA amount, help cover the full yearly cost of a Nazareth education.
Nazareth's Military and Veteran Services Coordinator and Academic Counselor Dillon Smith says this is welcome news for veterans and dependents looking to be part of an inclusive and supportive environment as they explore furthering their education.
"Nazareth has proudly been serving military-affiliated students above and beyond for more than a decade," said Smith. "I am extremely proud of the institution's decision to allow graduate students to use yellow ribbon funding, standing by its commitments to veterans and their dependents. The additional funding will be able to assist unlimited qualifying students in graduate studies, certifications, and it especially helps our physical therapy students as they complete a long and rigorous program."
Graduate student Grace La Porte '22, '24G, is a military dependent earning her doctorate of physical therapy as part of Nazareth's 3+3 program for physical therapy. She appreciates how Nazareth's expansion of the Yellow Ribbon program can help her and others. "This new change helped me to appreciate all that the military can provide for not only me, but other students in graduate programs. I am extremely grateful for my dad's service in the U.S. Army," said La Porte. Her father is currently in the Army Reserves.
Veteran Jeffrey Soucy served in the U.S. Air Force from 2003-2007 as a firefighter in Iraq. During his service, he was awarded two Air Force Achievement Medals for meritorious service. He then served in firefighting units overseas and in the states before pursuing his bachelor's degree at Montclair State University. He is currently at Nazareth earning his doctorate in physical therapy, and just received an Outstanding Adult Student award. He is set to graduate in May 2024 and says this is welcome news to graduate students. "This will help attract more veterans to Nazareth's vast graduate programs and allow them to participate and be a part of the growing veteran community at Naz."
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Military-affiliated students have access to the Military & Veteran Suite on campus — to socialize with peers, collaborate on group projects, or simply spend time studying in a quiet space.