(EMAILWIRE.COM, June 19, 2009 ) SAN ANTONIO – Continuing St. Mary’s University’s more than 75-year partnership with our nation’s military and our commitment to provide access to a quality Catholic education to our country’s heroes, University President Charles L. Cotrell, Ph.D. announced today that St. Mary’s is proud to be San Antonio’s first Yellow Ribbon School, a new Department of Veterans Affairs program that covers tuition and fees for Post-9/11 veterans.

If a Post-9/11 veteran takes advantage of the benefits made available under the new GI Bill, tuition and fees at any degree-granting school, up to those of the most expensive in-state public university, are covered (for more information on the new GI Bill, visit www.gibill.va.gov).Under the Yellow Ribbon program, schools agree to waive up to 50 percent of the difference, and VA will match the amount waived (for more information about the VA’s Yellow Ribbon School program, visit www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/CH33/Yellow_ribbon.htm).

St. Mary’s has taken the extra step to become a Yellow Ribbon School, assuring eligible veterans that should their undergraduate or graduate tuition and fees exceed the state’s highest public school’s costs, the difference will be covered if they attend St. Mary’s.

“As a reward for their dedicated service when soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines return from war, they should have the option to choose the college or university that best suits their new career path, without cost being a factor. The VA’s new GI Bill & Yellow Ribbon program relieves this financial burden for veterans enrolled at St. Mary’s,” said President Cotrell. “St. Mary’s University has a long history of support and collaboration with the military through our ROTC program and our existing discounted rates for active members of the military. Becoming a Yellow Ribbon School to extend yet another funding option to our distinguished men and women was a natural choice for St. Mary’s.”

St. Mary’s ROTC program has commissioned more than 1,400 officers for service in the military, and the University has more than 20 alumni who have achieved the rank of general or admiral in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Yellow Ribbon funding is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Those Post-9/11 veterans interested in attending St. Mary’s and utilizing the new GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon benefits should apply as soon as possible. St. Mary’s 2009 fall semester begins Aug. 18. Those interested in applying to St. Mary’s University, please visit www.stmarytx.edu and click on the yellow ribbon to begin the application process. This benefit applies only to undergraduate and graduate tuition and fees. Interested Veterans can also call the Office of Financial Assistance at (210) 436-3141 or (800) 367-7868.

St. Mary’s University, as a Catholic Marianist University, fosters the formation of people in faith and educates leaders for the common good through community service, integrated liberal arts and professional education, and academic excellence. St. Mary’s University is ranked fourth in the West Region for quality and value in the “Great Schools, Great Prices” category of the U.S. News & World Report’s 2009 edition of “America’s Best Colleges.”



-30-

Contact Information:
St. Marys University
Lucha Ramey
Tel: (210) 431-4377
Email us


This is a press release. Press release distribution and press release services by EmailWire.Com: http://www.emailwire.com/us-press-release-distribution.php.