WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University awarded more than $10,000 to six Indiana student veterans’ organizations that are helping student service members and veterans successfully transition to higher education settings.
The grants, awarded this month through MFRI’s Operation Diploma initiative, ranged from $1,000 to $2,000. Operation Diploma is an MFRI initiative launched to support and strengthen Indiana’s higher education institutions and student veterans’ organizations (SVOs).
"Student veterans’ organizations are making a difference on campuses throughout Indiana," said Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, director of MFRI. "They are motivating their members to access the spectrum of higher education services available to them, and they are contributing to the success of student service members and veterans as they pursue their dreams and goals."
In the category of new and emerging SVOs, the panel awarded top honors and a grant of $2,000 each to the student veterans’ organizations at the following universities:
- First place: Indiana University South Bend
- Second place: Ivy Tech Community College Wabash Valley
- Third place: Ball State University
SVOs associated with IUPUI and Ivy Tech Lafayette received $1,000 and $1,400, respectively.
In the category of established programs that could be enhanced or expanded with grant funds, the panel awarded top honors and a grant of $2,000 to the SVO associated with Ivy Tech Community College Richmond.
"It was such an honor to be a judge for this SVO competition," said Stacie Jeffirs, director of the Career Crossings Office at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame. "All of the students did an excellent job at presenting their proposals on how they wish to build their SVOs at each of their campuses."
Operation Diploma engages and educates higher education stakeholders on the issues surrounding student service members and veterans. Through this initiative, MFRI has since 2008 awarded nearly $2.4 million to higher education institutions and SVOs. Nearly $50,000 has been awarded directly to student veterans’ organizations.