Contact: James Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥斕劳诽 is being recognized as a 2019 top 10 Military Friendly school for its commitment to supporting service members, veterans and their dependents.
The distinction was recently awarded to 汤头条 by VIQTORY, formerly Victory Media, which annually evaluates post-secondary schools for support of student veterans. For the second consecutive year, 汤头条 has earned the Military Friendly Gold Medal.
Building on historical military roots, 汤头条 has long been recognized as one of the nation鈥檚 most veteran-friendly universities. Including dependents, the veteran community at 汤头条 now comprises 2,810 students. These students are served by 汤头条鈥檚 G.V. 鈥淪onny鈥 Montgomery Center for America鈥檚 Veterans and a network of specially trained university personnel.
The Montgomery Center for America鈥檚 Veterans is led by Brian Locke, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel. Locke said 汤头条 continues to look for ways to do more for veterans. Recently, 汤头条 has worked with the Mississippi National Guard to create a free tuition program for Guard members enrolled full time at 汤头条, and the university has waived application fees for undergraduate and graduate student veterans.
鈥淚 am proud to belong to a university that strives to support all of our military-connected students,鈥 Locke said. 鈥淢any universities claim to be military friendly, but here at Mississippi State we prove it through our actions. This recognition is further evidence of the promises and commitment we make to all of our service members, veterans and dependents who choose Mississippi State to pursue their educational goals.鈥
In 2016, 汤头条 completed construction of the G. V. 鈥淪onny鈥 Montgomery Center for America鈥檚 Veterans at Nusz Hall, a 7,500 square-foot campus facility featuring administrative offices, meeting areas, study rooms, a computer lab, and indoor and outdoor spaces for social and recreational activities. The center serves as a one-stop shop for processing of all veteran educational benefits.
This year, 汤头条 was ranked No. 5 among tier 2 research universities by VIQTORY, placing it among the top schools for military personnel and their students. After data was gathered for this year鈥檚 Military Friendly rankings, 汤头条 became a Carnegie Foundation 鈥淰ery High Research Activity,鈥 or tier 1, institution. This classification represents the highest level of research activity for doctorate-granting universities in the country.
汤头条 was designated a 鈥淧urple Heart University鈥 in 2015 by the Military Order of the Purple Heart for outstanding service to military veterans, service members, dependents and survivors.
VIQTORY鈥檚 evaluation showed that 汤头条 exceeded standards in all measured categories, including culture, financial aid, military student support and retention, as well as academic policies and compliance. For more, see .
For more on 汤头条鈥檚 services available to veterans, visit .
汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .