Over 100 RU students are veteran soldiers

In the summer of 2008, Congress brought good news to many veterans. Congress passed a bill that provided financial support for military service members who served after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Veterans who served 36 months of active duty get full tuition and money for housing as full-time students. The bill also offered up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill will pay up to the most expensive in-state tuition and fees at a public institution of higher learning in the state that the veteran is from.

At Rowan University, there are over 100 students that are veterans on the Post-9/11 GI bill.

Senior accounting major Dan Cessaro is one of these students.  A veteran who served a little over four years as a combat engineer, Dan knew exactly what he wanted to do, and what he had to do to accomplish his goal.

Beginning at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor, N.J., Cessaro used the bill to continue his education at Rowan, where he is working on the degree he knew he wanted to receive. Rowan University’s Veteran Affairs office aids veteran students like Cessaro through their academic careers.

“Rowan has a Veterans’ Affairs office in the Academic Success Center where Veterans can get situated with the transition to the academic setting,” Cessaro said. “Rowan also has a Veteran Student Organization (VSO) comprised both of veterans and non-veteran students that share a common goal of support and guidance for student veterans transitioning to and from Rowan University.”

Many veterans decide to head back to school, and sometimes that may be a hard decision.

“Some veterans have difficulty making this transition because they are so accustomed to the structure of the military where you are told where and when to be.” Cessaro said. “In an academic setting such as Rowan University, you basically have to figure it out yourself. But there are resources available through the VSO and VA office for vets on campus.”

Russel Carney, a senior writing art major, served four years and ten months on active duty in U.S Air Force. Carney did not attend school before the GI Bill.

“One of the main things that helped me decide to attend Rowan was Anna Marie Pustizzi,” Carney said. “She is very helpful in filling out paperwork and she answered a lot of questions.”

Pustizzi, coordinator at the Veteran Affairs office, said she anticipates that there will be more veterans come spring semester.

The bill has made it possible for many veterans to receive an education. If not for the bill, many would not be able to obtain this education.

“If I did not have this bill, I would most likely apply for loans or I would try to make it in another field full time,” Carney said.

In the spring Rowan University will be part of another agreement that will allow more veterans to attend college. The program is called the Yellow Ribbon Program.

The Yellow Ribbon Program will allow higher institutes of education to volunteer to enter an agreement with the VA to fund tuition expenses that may contribute up to 50% of expenses. The VA will then match up the same amount that the institution is willing to pay.

“The new GI bill, the Post-9/11 GI bill, is an absolute blessing and is well deserved by all veterans for the sacrifices they have made,” Cessaro said.