Barr highlights success of veterans’ STEM scholarships program at home-state university

A recent law originally introduced by U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) to increase U.S. military veterans’ access to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) scholarships is proving successful at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU).

“I’m grateful to EKU for their nationally recognized dedication to student veterans, and I’m pleased to see the impact this legislation is having on the lives of students participating in this scholarship program,” Rep. Barr said during a Jan. 22 event at EKU where he was joined by university officials.

The congressman sponsored the bipartisan H.R. 2196 in April 2019 to reduce the credit hour requirement for the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship program of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The president signed the bill into law in July 2019.

Specifically, the law authorizes that an eligible individual must be enrolled in a program that requires at least the standard 120 semester (or 180 quarter) credit hours, instead of the previous requirement for more than 128 semester (or 192 quarter) credit hours, according to the text of the law.

“Providing our veterans with an opportunity to invest in an education is just one way we can help those who have served our country transition back to civilian life,” said Rep. Barr.

EKU in the fall of 2019 reported roughly 107 veteran students using VA benefits who were enrolled in the 32 undergraduate STEM scholarship-approved degree programs.

Barbara Kent, EKU’s director of the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs, said the program has been positive for veteran students at the university.

“It goes without saying that the impact of this scholarship on our individual veteran students and their families is immeasurable,” said Kent. “Equally important is its impact beyond the individual student and to society at large because recipients – in degrees such as Occupational Safety, Nursing, Emergency Medical Care, Fire and Safety Engineering, Environmental Health Sciences, just to name a few – are able to achieve their educational goals to go on and serve other veterans as well as their communities.”

EKU Interim President David McFaddin added that the university is proud of each student veteran who attends EKU seeking to continue their education.

“These brave men and women have served our country and we are honored to serve them with the support and resources needed to advance their careers and find new ways to contribute to their local communities,” he said.