Business School at University of Illinois Creates $250,000 Scholarship for Vets

Emanuel Welcomes Home 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment

CHICAGO, IL—The College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) announced today it has established a $250,000 education scholarship fund for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Representative Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) attended the Lakeview May festival where he thanked the University’s College of Business for establishing a scholarship fund for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.  The fund echoes the education benefit that Emanuel’s Welcome Home GI Bill provides, which will also extend enhanced health care and housing benefits to these veterans. Emanuel also joined with the Lakeview community in welcoming home the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine regiment. 

“When members of the armed forces return home from their tours of duty, it is our responsibility and privilege to provide them with the opportunity and economic means to enjoy the benefits of freedom for which they fought so bravely. We are pleased to do our part so that returning veterans have the professional education they need to provide for their families,” said Robert van der Hooning, Director of Executive Education, UIUC.

The scholarship fund from the College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will provide $250,000 in financial assistance to Illinois veterans returning from service in Afghanistan, Iraq and other areas of the world as well as active-duty military personnel.  Scholarships will be immediately available to qualified veterans who wish to pursue a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) degree at the university’s new Illini Center facility in downtown Chicago or a Part-Time MBA Program on the Urbana-Champaign campus.  The scholarship program will be available through 2007.

“Generations of American GIs have served humbly in the face of terror and insurgency across the globe. And when these young people return home, they need the assistance of institutions such as the University of Illinois so that they can finish their education and get on with the lives they deserve,” said Emanuel. “We have a chance today to open the doors to higher education for millions of brave men and women. I’m proud to be here with UIUC to welcome home our veterans.”

Since Emanuel announced the Welcome Home GI Bill in a ceremony this spring in Chicago, he has received support from the Illinois American Legion, the Illinois Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Vaughan Chapter. And last week, U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

The Welcome Home GI Bill will provide any active duty, reservist, or National Guardsmen, who served for at least six consecutive months in either Iraq or Afghanistan since September 11, 2001 with health care, education and job training and housing. The provisions of the bill include:

1. Health Care – Emanuel’s plan provides returning American Veterans who are unable to secure health care from an employer, with the same medical care they received while in the service.  Veterans and their families would be entitled to this benefit for up to five years. 

2. Education and Job Training – Emanuel will provide $75,000 over 48 months to returning Veterans to pay for college or vocational training. Veterans could also use this money to pay off existing student loans. 

3. Housing – In addition to existing Veterans Administration’s home loan guarantees, Emanuel’s package will grant returning veterans a $5,000 down payment to purchase a home.
 

Emanuel attended today’s Lakeview May Festival where he celebrated the return of over fifty members of the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment at the1st annual thank you celebration for Chicago’s Hometown Heros. The Marines, serving with the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, are reservists based in Chicago who were activated and called to duty on June 1, 2004. The Marines were dispatched to the Northern Babil Province of Iraq to conduct “Stability and Support Operations” in conjunction with coalition forces participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“We’re grateful for your service to our country. Today’s celebration reminds all of us that we owe you a debt we may never be able to repay,” said Emanuel. “I hope the Welcome Home GI Bill is a start.”

Emanuel was joined today by Pastor David Abrahamson, St. Luke’s Church; John Barry, chair of the Lakeview May Festival; Alderman Theodore Matlak, Ward 32; Major Coates spokesperson for the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Reserve Unit, and Bob van der Hooning, Director of Executive Education from UIUC.