[Vision2020] Friday Fireworks

Sun Oct 14 15:13:24 PDT 2007

Actually, Matt, the U of I is doing quite a service to our troops.  From the 
Idaho Statesman's Tim Woodward:  Woodward: Injured vets get help reforging 
their lives

- Idaho Statesman
Edition Date: 10/10/07

With BSU setting annual enrollment records and building its name as an 
athletic power, it's easy for those of us in this part of Idaho to ignore 
the achievements of Idaho's other universities.

We shouldn't. Credit the University of Idaho with an idea that other 
universities would do well to emulate. Instead of talking about supporting 
our troops, UI is doing it in a meaningful way.

Tom Prewitt is proof. He graduated from the university in May with a degree 
in wildlife resources and now works for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe as a 
wildlife habitat biologist.

What does that have to do with supporting our troops? Prewitt was one of our 
troops. He has a permanent disability from injuries suffered while serving 
in the Army in Afghanistan. Graduating from college might still be a dream 
for him if not for a UI program that helps wounded veterans and their 
spouses. It's called Operation Education, and Prewitt is its first graduate.

The program is the first of its kind in the nation. The idea for it came 
when Heidi Linehan of the university's office of development spent time with 
veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

"She was moved by the spirit of the veterans going through rehab there," 
Operation Education chairwoman Karen White said. "She came to me to because 
I have a background in physical education and a connection with the 
president. (UI President Tim White is her husband.)

"She wanted to know how we could help injured veterans, and we decided the 
obvious thing was to provide scholarships and help them with their 
education. These are people who need to rethink how they're going to make a 
living, contribute to society and feed their families, and higher education 
is the key. It's what we can do to thank them for what they've done in 
behalf of our country."

Operation Education provides veterans severely wounded since Sept. 11, 2001, 
with tuition, fees, books, transportation, on-campus housing, medical 
assistance, child care and other benefits. Two students have enrolled 
through it this year. Spouses also are eligible.

"We made it available to spouses because wounded veterans might not be able 
to work outside of the home due to their injuries," UI spokeswoman Joni Kirk 
said. "The spouse in those cases will be the breadwinner."

It's hard to overestimate the value of that kind of help for those who have 
been disabled serving their country. College has become so expensive that 
G.I. Bill benefits typically fall $19,000 short of paying for a four-year 
education, and disabled veterans have additional expenses other students 
don't. Operation Education can mean the difference between going to college 
and just dreaming about it. It can make the difference between dead ends and 
a productive life.

The assistance is different for each student. For Prewitt, who is married 
and has a young son, child care was a crucial component. For Chase Clark, 
it's physical therapy — which a local hospital provided without charge.

"The difference was night and day," White said. "His grades improved, and 
suddenly he had a twinkle in his eye."

Clark, 22, is a sophomore studying landscape architecture. His injuries were 
so traumatic that he still doesn't talk about his military service, but 
Operation Education has given him a new start.

"It's made all the difference in the world," he said. "It's helped me with 
anything I've needed, backed me up and provided excellent support. It's 
something that needs to get out to more veterans."

Their injuries qualify the veterans for help through Vocational 
Rehabilitation, which is administered by the Department of Veteran's Affairs 
, but the rest of their financial assistance is privately funded.

"We have about 237 donors who have contributed over $190,000," said Linehan, 
now the program's director of development. "Part of that is a $50,000 pledge 
from Boise. These aren't necessarily UI alums, either. They're doing it 
because of what the program is doing for veterans. The connection is in 
their hearts."

Karen White sends hand-written thank-you letters to each donor, regardless 
of the size of the donation. And her husband plans to send letters to all 
college presidents in the country, urging them to consider similar programs 
at their schools.

"We're hoping this kind of help will be available at colleges and 
universities throughout the nation," Linehan said.

"What a great thing that would be for our veterans. I wake up every morning 
knowing we're doing the right thing."

Tim Woodward: 377-6409

>From: Matt Decker <mattd2107 at hotmail.com>
>To: <nickgier at adelphia.net>
>CC: vision2020 at moscow.com, J Ford <privatejf32 at hotmail.com>
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Friday Fireworks
>Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:05:21 -0700
>
>
>Nick,
>
>I'm not going to deny that our soldiers' care relies on the govt. I believe 
>we we're talking about donations though. I had mentioned a more noble 
>donation would be to give money to our wounded troops, instead of fireworks 
>for a worthless game. You had mentioned that people should donate to profs 
>at the UI. Any of this ringing a bell.
>
>Nick I know plenty of professors around here, many of them being customers 
>of mine. I can assure you that your doing just fine. Most likely making 
>more than myself. However, I have no problem donating to our troops.
>
>Matt
>
> > Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2007 10:31:53 -0700
> > From: nickgier at adelphia.net
> > To: mattd2107 at hotmail.com
> > CC: vision2020 at moscow.com; privatejf32 at hotmail.com
> > Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Friday Fireworks
> >
> > Hi Matt,
> >
> > The responsibility to take care of our wounded vets is a federal one.  
>But one could suggest that their care could be deducted from Bush's pay and 
>then his very substantial retirement check.  After all he is the one who 
>put in them in harm's way and then neglected them when they returned home.
> >
> > Nick Gier
> >
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