http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/new_ha...ackles-college-life-for-veterans#.UbD33EBJ7B9
ShadowSpear's very own Deathy McDeath is one of the students in this year's Warrior Scholar Project, which just made the local news...
ShadowSpear's very own Deathy McDeath is one of the students in this year's Warrior Scholar Project, which just made the local news...
Warrior-Scholar Project tackles college life for veterans
Updated: Thursday, 06 Jun 2013, 10:18 AM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 05 Jun 2013, 12:34 PM EDT
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- A program being run at Yale University helps veterans make the transition to college life.
- Jeff Valin
Wednesday morning, some vets taking part in that program took a 'time out' to have a little fun with Yale's football team.
"It's actually kind of, like, blowing my mind how wrong I was, when I thought I had everything figured out," said Alexandra Del'romero, USMC.
They're used to playing for much tougher field position, but that doesn't mean the transition to college life, for veterans, is easy.
"Kind of exemplified quite a bit with veterans who do some time in college and go back in to the service or drop out completely because they don't have the right direction," said Matt MacLaine, USMC.
Hence the " Warrior Scholar Project ," a unique and intensive two-week 'boot camp' of sorts, hosted at Yale. The brainchild of Australian Army vet Chris Howell.
"You need to learn how to be a student," said Howell. "You know, you can kick in doors, but you don't know how to read and write, at least at an academic level, yet."
He got a leg up from his collegiate brother at University of Sydney before coming to study at Yale.
"You know, he sent me assignments and things like that, and he also introduced me to a lot of his friends, to help with my social transition to the college environment," said Howell.
How rigorous is the program? Let's just say getting up to play a football friendly at 6:30 a.m. was a welcome respite.
"It's a good way to let off some steam because we've all been working pretty late," said MacLaine.
With the growth of this donor-funded program, now in its second year, there is, of course, the challenge of getting money, but apparently the bigger challenge is getting the word out.
"If people don't know about it, guys can't put in for it, girls can't put in for it, next thing you know, these great programs all fall by the wayside," said Kenny Richardson, Navy & Army.
However, doubling the length to two weeks and nearly tripling the ranks in just year-two, Warrior Scholar is gaining some serious yardage.