SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED

MBU's new scholarship initiative is giving veterans the opportunity to go to school here tuition free

When many of Arthur Little's peers were preparing to begin the exciting journey known as college life, the Atlanta, Ga., native opted to pursue a drastically different course for success.

He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp.

"It was a time in my life when I knew I wanted to do something honorable," Little recalled. "I wanted to be the best and, at the same time, serve my country."

Twelve years later, now-Sgt. Arthur Little has learned a lot about tenacity and discipline from his career in the armed services. He's given a lot, too. As a computer information system specialist for the Marines, Little has traveled worldwide-from New York to Japan-helping to ensure the Marine Corp's IT infrastructure is resilient to whatever problems may surface. His career in the Marines has, at times, meant long stints without his wife and young son. It's meant sacrifice.

Now, with the start of the 2009-2010 academic year, MBU has launched an innovative initiative aimed at honoring the service of Little, who deactivated from the Marines this past January but has already joined the National Guard, and the other men and women of the U.S. Armed Services who have served since Sept. 11, 2001. This past fall, MBU began offering veterans of the U.S. armed services who have served at least 90 days of service since Sept. 11 free tuition for all graduate and undergraduate degrees.

"The hope is that this program will rightfully award those men and women who so honorably have served our country," said Terry Dale Cruse, MBU dean of enrollment services. "This program justly allows veterans the opportunity to choose an independent institution without having to go into debt. We feel like that's the least we can do."

The MBU scholarship program partners with the federal Post-9/11 GI Bill, which includes a provision that allows independent institutions, like MBU, to match federal funds dollar-for-dollar. Essentially, the provision allows veterans for the first time the opportunity to choose to attend a participating independent institution tuition-free.

Veterans have long participated in the Montgomery G.I. Bill; however, that federal scholarship opportunity does not provide a matching opportunity for independent institutions, leaving veterans who want to pursue a college degree tuition free with far fewer options.

"With this program, students basically have the same opportunity whether they want to enroll in a state school or a private school," Cruse noted. "This really broadens the access for students."

After visiting MBU's main campus last spring-prior to the enactment of the scholarship program-Little knew instantly he belonged at this institution. He was willing to make a sacrifice. Again.

"I prayed about it. And I said, ‘If this is where I am supposed to be, you'll have to make provisions,'" Little said. "When I found out about this program, I couldn't do anything but praise God."