News Release
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Senator Carper Highlights Improvements to GI Bill at Wilmington University
Military and Veteran Students Will Receive Additional Benefits
Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) met with military students and Wilmington University President, Dr. Jack Varsalona, to announce recent improvements to the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The announcement came today during a press conference held at Wilmington University’s Dover site. Sen. Carper commended the students who serve our country and also thanked Wilmington University and other area colleges for providing continued support of military and veteran students.
Dr. Pete Bailey, Assistant Vice President of Business Development and University Locations at Wilmington University, welcomed Senator Carper and distinguished guests. Dr. Bailey, himself a retired Captain for the US Air Force, acknowledged the great importance of this Bill.
Wilmington University students have already felt the benefits of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which provides financial support to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after Sept. 11, 2001. The Bill also applies to individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days.
Sen. Carper, a veteran of the Vietnam War, explained the importance of providing educational opportunities to veterans and military personnel. “When I got back from the war the GI Bill gave me $200 a month to earn my MBA and I was happy to have it,” said Sen. Carper. “As we welcome home our men an women nowadays the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides them with free tuition, books are provided, a place to live is provided, tutoring is provided. All of that is provided.”
The improvements to the Post-9/11 GI Bill will include an increase in tuition coverage (from $9,000 for 9 months to full in-state tuition coverage). A stipend for housing, tutoring benefits, transferability of benefits to spouses or children and an allowance of $1000 towards textbooks are just a few of the improvements to the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
“We’ve come a long way with the Post-9/11 GI Bill in the past two years,” said Sen. Carper. “Today, more than 537,000 students have received over $11.5 billion in GI Bill benefits to help them take charge of their future. The new legislation will further enhance this important benefit. Providing our veterans with the educational tools they need to pursue a successful post-military career is a great way to say ‘thank you’ to our soldiers for their sacrifices on our behalf.”
Wilmington University has seen its population of students being helped by this benefit growth. “Today we have over 14,500 students, 3,000 of whom are in the military and 1,000 of whom are located right here at our Dover Air Force Base site,” said Wilmington University President, Dr. Jack Varsalona. “We have always recognized and honored the great men and women who serve our country and will continue to make every effort to support these men and women as best we know how.”
One such student, Amy McKenna, thanked Wilmington University and lawmakers for changing her life by way of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. McKenna, who is a military spouse, said the Bill gave her the opportunity to put two of her children through college. Her son graduated from Wilmington University, her husband earned his MBA at the University and now she, too, can go to college. “Because my husband could transfer his Post-9/11 GI benefits, I am now enrolled at Wilmington University and will be starting in the fall,” said McKenna. “I am so grateful.”
Additional guest speakers and dignitaries included Robert Stickles (representing Congressman Carney), Bob King, Dover Air Force Base Chief Force Development Flight (and retired USAF colonel), Brigadier General Carol Timmons, Delaware Air National Guard and National Guard (also a Wilmington University alumna), and veteran Staff Sergeant Bree Smith (Wilmington University student).
In closing, Dr. Varsalona thanked Senator Carper saying, “We must not forget that Senator Carper was instrumental in the formation of this bill. We thank him and all the lawmakers who have made this Bill possible.”
