A cohort of enlisted veterans and military service members from across the country were on campus earlier this month for a week-long academic bootcamp through a partnership with the Warrior-Scholar Project.
The intensive program focuses on transitioning out of military service, preparing participants for college, confidence building, and community.
At the annual Veterans Day Recognition Breakfast in November, President Sian Leah Beilock pledged to double the number of undergraduate veterans at Dartmouth. And on July 1, Morgan Ogreen started in the newly created role of director of the Office of Military and Veteran Support in Community and Campus Life.
The eight WSP participants who were on campus July 18-25 attended seminars on U.S. democracy led by Dartmouth faculty—Russell Muirhead, John Carey, and Dean Lacy from the Department of Government, Julia Rabig and Bethany Moreton from the Department of History, and Roberta Stewart from the Department of Classics—and were introduced to campus resources.
“Veterans signed up to defend the Constitution, and this program gives them an opportunity to intellectualize that commitment,” says Cassie Sanchez, director of education at WSP.
Through rigorous texts and class discussions to help hone their academic skills, participants complete more than 75 academic hours, similar to a week of finals at college. Tutors and student veteran mentors who have attended college also work closely with the cohort, providing assistance and guidance.
“Warrior-Scholar Project is transformational for every service member it engages,” says Yogi Hernandez, a retired chief petty officer in the Navy who is currently a WSP fellow. “WSP was extremely intentional in how it was created and delivered, and who it is administered to and where.”
“The program literally changed my life by giving me the tools to have a conversation with others about my service,” says Hernandez.
In addition to the college readiness program, WSP offers one-week academic boot camps in STEM and business.
More than 115,000 veterans transition out of the military each year, and higher education is often the gateway to pursuing new careers.
“Participating in WSP at Dartmouth has provided me with the opportunity to see what I’m interested in academically, meet others in the same boat, and learn how other veterans found their path in life,” says Air Force Senior Airman Marty Martushev. “It’s been an incredible experience.”
The program was free for participants thanks to support from Dartmouth and investments made to WSP from foundations, corporations, and individual donors.
“We are building on the legacy of former Dartmouth president and Marine Corps veteran James Wright, and his tireless initiatives to support and educate veterans,” says Ogreen, a Naval Academy graduate and former active-duty helicopter pilot. “President Wright was instrumental in lobbying Congress to create the Yellow Ribbon Program, which helps veterans pay for tuition and fees for private colleges and universities.”
