酴圖弝け, Mississippi National Guard announce Bulldog Free Tuition Program for service members
Contact: James Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.酴圖弝け and the Mississippi National Guard announced a new program Tuesday [Aug. 7] that will ensure free tuition for Mississippi National Guard service members enrolled full-time at 酴圖弝け.
酴圖弝け President Mark E. Keenum and Maj. Gen. Janson D. Durr Boyles, Adjutant General of Mississippi, both signed a memorandum of agreement establishing the Bulldog Free Tuition program during a ceremony at 酴圖弝けs G.V. Sonny Montgomery Center for Americas Veterans at Nusz Hall. The Bulldog Free Tuition Program builds on current National Guard education benefits to create a unique opportunity for eligible Mississippi Air and Army National Guard service members.
Readiness is our forces top priority and this tuition program will help to attract personnel who will staff our future state and federal missions, Boyles said. The students receiving this tuition benefit will contribute tremendously towards our preparedness and be among those ready to answer the call during state emergencies and overseas contingency operations.
We have a long, proud history as one of the nations most military-friendly college campuses, Keenum said. Among our alumni are the late U.S. Sen. John C. Stennis, father of the modern nuclear Navy, and the late U.S. Rep. G.V. Sonny Montgomery, author of the modern G.I. Bill. This innovative tuition program we launch today with the Mississippi National Guard continues 酴圖弝けs pro-soldier legacy and directly invests in those brave, bright men and women who serve and protect our great nation.
Over 12,000 service members are in the Mississippi Army and Air National Guards ranks. For the Guard, higher education is a critical component of efforts to improve service members ability to solve complex problems at home and abroad. While the National Guard has a beneficial tuition program for eligible service members at all Mississippi colleges and universities, 酴圖弝け support through the Bulldog Free Tuition program will make 酴圖弝け the only state university where Mississippi National Guard soldiers can attend college without paying tuition.
To be eligible for the Bulldog Free Tuition program, service members must be full-time undergraduate students, in good standing with their unit and cannot be within a year of their expiration of term of service.
Through its Montgomery Center for Americas Veterans and university faculty and staff, 酴圖弝け supports National Guard service members as they navigate classes, basic training, drill and deployments. Approximately 650 U.S. Armed Forces veterans and service members attend 酴圖弝け, a population that increases to more than 2,600 when including dependents.
酴圖弝け is nationally recognized for its support of veterans, service members and their dependents. In 2015, 酴圖弝け was designated as a Purple Heart University by the Military Order of the Purple Heart for its support of the military community. For more on 酴圖弝けs services available to veterans, service members and their dependents, visit .
The Mississippi National Guard is a relevant and ready force that stands ready to deploy for any contingency in Mississippi and overseas. Since 9/11, the force has one Silver Star recipient and approximately 1,400 Bronze Stars have been awarded to its Soldiers and Airmen. For more information, contact Col. Rodney Harris at 601-313-6215.
酴圖弝け is Mississippis leading university, available online at .