Military, veteran student programs awarded grant by state
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce granted the university over $150,000 in recognition and support of EHS education programs enrolling military-affiliated students
The state granted Miami $163,675 – the full amount awarded through the EmpowerVetEd grant initiative.
“This award recognizes your Institution’s dedication and shared vision for empowering our nation’s service members, veterans, and their spouses to become educators,” wrote Kimberly Pietsch Miller, chief of leadership development with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
EHS works with multiple offices across campus, including admissions, financial assistance, bursar, Transformation and Inclusive Excellence, Center for Veteran Services, and Student Veterans Center to provide support for military personnel and their families enrolled in courses.
Amity Noltemeyer, EHS dean; Brian Schultz, EHS associate dean for external relations and partnerships; Amy Lamborg, coordinator of research development of the EHS Discovery Center; and Sherill Sellers, EHS associate dean for academic excellence and innovation, led the effort to apply for the grant.
The EmpowerVetEd grant will be put toward expanding the number of military personnel enrolled in the education major across all three of Miami’s campuses, according to Sellers.
“Our goal is to more than double our current enrollment in this area,” Sellers said. “Military-affiliated individuals possess unique skills and experiences that make them exceptionally well-suited for careers in education. Their leadership, discipline, dedication, and commitment to service can add valuable perspectives and strengths to our K-12 classrooms.”
To do this, EHS provides scholarships and financial aid to be used for expenses like transportation and supporting current students through career coaching and mentorship programs.
“Creating an accessible pathway for veterans to pursue an education that leads to licensure as K12 educators will benefit not only the veterans themselves but also our students and the broader community,” Sellers said. “The grant will help us prepare military students to become confident and effective K-12 educators, ready to make an immediate impact from their first day in the classroom.”