March 28, 2013
Alabama State Board of Education Passes Two Resolutions in Support of Alabama’s Veterans and Soldiers
Montgomery – At today’s regularly scheduled Alabama State Board of Education meeting the board approved two resolutions pledging their support of Alabama’s veterans and their support of individuals serving in the Global War on Terrorism.
Alabama is currently home to more than 400,000 veterans and their families. That number represents 11 percent of the civilian population aged 18 and over.
The State Board and the Alabama Community College System are committed to ensuring that academic, skills training and mental health programs are available at ACCS institutions and are readily accessible to those individuals who have served our State and our Country.
The resolutions of support include tuition refunds for veterans, scholarships for the immediate family members, and support services for veterans and their family members upon their return from deployments.
“I support these resolutions and am honored to approve these resolutions in support of our veterans,” stated Mary Scott Hunter, District VIII board representative and veteran. “Many times these individuals return from their deployments with emotional, mental and physical issues and don’t know where to go or what to do to move forward,” she said. “Many times they don’t know what our colleges offer and that we have programs designed to get them where they need to be in order to be successful in life.”
System Chancellor Mark Heinrich recommended that all appropriate resources be available to meet the needs of Alabama’s veterans, activated soldiers and their families on both short and long-term bases.
“We owe it to these individuals and their families to support them and provided the necessary services for them,” Dr. Heinrich said. “They have sacrificed so much for the people of this state and this country, it is the least that we can do for them.”
Contact:
E.J. Cooper
T 334.293.4513
dpecom@dpe.edu
