Law School, Darden to Fund Veteran Scholarships Through 'Yellow Ribbon Program'

June 30, 2009 — The School of Law and Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia will participate in the federal government's new "Yellow Ribbon Program," which provides scholarships to post-9/11 veterans.

Under the program, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs matches scholarship funds provided to eligible veterans at participating schools. June 22 was the deadline for schools to sign up. As of Friday, the Yellow Ribbon Web site listed more than 700 public and private institutions across the U.S. that have agreed to participate.

Up to five veterans will receive full-tuition scholarships at the School of Law in the 2009-10 academic year. Students will receive scholarships estimated at $12,800 for residents of Virginia and $15,300 for nonresidents. The combination of federal and Law School grants will cover all required tuition and fees next year.

"It is a privilege to be able to assist a group of remarkable young men and women who have already demonstrated an ethic of service," Dean Paul G. Mahoney said.

Benefits will be awarded to veterans on a first-come, first-served basis and apply to both incoming and returning J.D. students. For information on applying for the scholarship, contact the Law School Financial Aid Office at 434-924-7805 or lawfinaid@virginia.edu.

Larry Mueller, Darden's director of financial aid, said alumni created a merit scholarship three years ago that focuses on attracting applicants who are transferring out of military service. The Yellow Ribbon program, he said, builds on that tradition.

"We have long been committed to educating those who have served in the military," he said.

For 2009-10, the Darden School will offer benefits to qualifying veterans in both its traditional MBA and its MBA for Executives programs. A $6,000 grant per calendar year will be matched by Veterans' Affairs on top of other veterans' tuition benefits. For veterans who receive a Darden merit scholarship, the first $6,000 of their annual scholarship will be considered eligible for the Yellow Ribbon match.

For information, contact Darden's financial aid office at 434-924-7739, or e-mail
Amanda Mills at millsa@darden.virginia.edu.

Veterans Affairs is finalizing its list of participating schools this week; the benefit will begin Aug. 1. Among Virginia schools in the program are Virginia Commonwealth University, Washington & Lee University, the College of William and Mary and George Mason University.

Generally, to be eligible for Yellow Ribbon, a veteran must have served at least 36 months on active duty after Sept. 11, 2001, or have been discharged because of disability after serving at least 30 days.

The Yellow Ribbon Program is part of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act passed by Congress in 2008 to provide enhanced educational support to veterans who have served on active duty after Sept. 11, 2001.

This story originally appeared on the U.Va. School of Law Web site.

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