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Savannah Tech, GSU make list of military-friendly schools
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Savannah Technical College and Georgia Southern University have been designated as military-friendly schools for 2013 by G.I. Jobs magazine.

The list of schools on www.militaryfriendlyschools.com honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans and spouses as students.

This year’s military-friendly schools list criteria incorporate a survey of more than 3,000 student veterans. According to the publication, the feedback they gather provides prospective military students with insight into the student veteran experience at particular institutions based on peer reviews from current students. Now in its fourth year, the list was compiled through research and a data-driven survey of more than 12,000 VA-approved schools nationwide.

Savannah Tech, located adjacent to Hunter Army Air Field, is the only Georgia college or university to offer classes and enrollment services in the Army Education Center at Fort Stewart. For the academic year that ended June 30, Savannah Technical College enrolled 755 military or veteran students.

“We are honored to serve our military students,” college President Dr. Kathy Love said. “We work hard to support them in the classroom and with services that help them be successful.”

This year, Savannah Tech is participating in the Yellow-Ribbon Scholarship program that offers tuition waivers each year for qualifying out-of-state veterans under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The scholarship covers 50 percent of out-of-state tuition that is not covered under the regular Post 9/11 Tuition and Fee Assistance. In turn, the Veterans Administration will match the scholarship dollar for dollar for the remaining out-of-state tuition charges.

Additionally, active-duty military personnel stationed in Georgia and their family members are eligible for a military-tuition rate, which is the same as in-state tuition. STC waives the application fee to service members and family who have deployed to a forward area (Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.). Application fee is waived with proof of overseas deployment beginning January 2007. Soldiers must present their Enlisted Record Brief; immediate family members need military ID and deployment orders or ERB.

Information about services available for military students and families is available at savannahtech.edu/MilitaryFriendly.

Georgia Southern is within driving distance of the U.S. Army’s Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield. Additionally, Fort Gordon and Robins Air Force Base are within two hours.

“We are honored to once again be recognized by G.I. Jobs magazine as one of the most military friendly universities in the country,” Georgia Southern President Dr. Brooks Keel said. “The ranking is the result of a University-wide commitment to provide military personnel with the service and assistance they need and deserve.”

“A school’s inclusion on the 2013 list of military friendly schools shows commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students,” said Sean Collins, vice president at Victory Media and director for G.I. Jobs. “As interest in education grows, we’re thrilled to provide the military community with transparent, world-class resources to assist in their search for schools.”

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BI hosts LCSS Gala
LibertyCountySchools

Bradwell Institute’s Friends Helping Friends will host the 3rdAnnual Liberty County School System Special Needs Gala Saturday at 7p.m.

The dance portion of the gala is free and open to the public.

FHF was started three years ago by BI special needs teacher Charlie Moon. FHF is comprised of a large group of general education students that connect special needs students with their general education peers. They have raised $20,000 in the last 30 months, for events like this, a new sensory room, music therapy equipment, and many other fun events. 

“FHF does so much for the special needs students. It really brings them out in their social skills. They become so much more comfortable around us all,” FHF Junior Danielle Hennessee said. 

FHF Junior Jada Naftzinger said it’s a two-way street. “It not only helps them, but us as well. It brings us out of our own shells and comfort zones.” 

Moon added, “For us, the Gala is not our calling card. I’ve told the students from day one, unless they truly know these special needs students, we won’t do the Gala at all. We’ll throw a big pizza party instead. The point is, we want the kids to really focus on the one-on-one, in-class work, hanging out in the halls, really talking to them. That’s the only way this program truly reaches its potential. Our motto is, “Changing lives, one friend at a time.”

During a private dinner which precedes the public dance, district office personnel, representatives from Congressman Buddy Carter’s office, district SPED staff, BI Football players and FHF members, parents and the honored guests – 50 special needs students from around the district will be in attendance.

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