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Tech earns 2023-2024 Military Friendly School designation
American flags are placed around Tech's campus each year in honor of Veterans Day.
Tennessee Tech University has earned the 2023-2024 Military Friendly School designation
and the special silver award. This designation is granted by VIQTORY, a service-disabled,
veteran-owned small business that connects the military community to civilian employment,
educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs® and Military
Friendly® brands.
Tech consistently receives the Military Friendly School designation for meeting the
standards set for organizations showing their commitment to serving veterans and by
showing their efforts and support in making sure that they succeed.
“The award we received is for the work we do serving student veterans as well as dependents
of veterans using Veterans Administration benefits,” Mary McCaskey, director of Financial
Aid and Veterans Affairs, said.
This year the university received that designation with the additional award or rank
of silver for going above and beyond the required standards.
Institutions were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary
survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2023-2024 survey with 665 earning
special awards for going above the standard.
The Military Friendly Advisory Council investigates the number of faculty and staff
who are veterans, whether the university has priority registration for veterans, if
the university has a veterans center, and different programs on campus that are specific
to assisting the military community. This encompasses veterans, active service members
and spouses of service members. Tech has its own department that serves students by
helping them in the transition of going from the military to the civilian world.
Tech earned the 2023-2024 Military Friendly School designation and the special silver
award.
Benjamin Iles, a junior environmental and sustainability studies major with a concentration
in environmental science natural resources, and a wildlife and fisheries science minor,
is one of the veterans served. Iles, who was raised in Collierville and grew up in
Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, served 4.5 years in the United States Marine Corps and at the
time of discharge was a sergeant.
“I appreciate the job opportunities on campus for veterans in the military office.
This helps me earn money while still being able to attend class regularly,” IIes said.
“I also enjoy supporting other veterans by helping them navigate the world of VA benefits.”
Iles said he chose to come to Tech because he knew the “wildlife program here was
really good for this area of the country,” and he was familiar with the university
since his sister and his friends from high school attended Tech. His favorite thing
about Tech is probably the “walkability and campus beauty.”
“I'm glad Tech is being recognized with this new ranking since I've always felt supported
and appreciated here. The Office of Military & Veterans Affairs is proactive in reaching out to students and getting them involved with our student
veteran organization and with events the office sponsors,” Iles said. “One that I
hold a lot of respect for is our ‘22 a Day’ remembrance. I'm glad the community at
Tech welcomes veterans and their families.”
Ann Margarette Martizano, a junior biology and chemistry double major with a concentration
in microbiology and biochemistry, has also been able to utilize Tech’s Office of Military
& Veterans Affairs. She is a fourth-generation college student who was raised in the
Philippines and now resides in Sparta.
Martizano is a military dependent. Her father is a Marine and Air Force veteran with
an E8 rank. She makes use of the job opportunities through the VA work-study program
and chose to come to Tech for its military-friendly designation.
Tech is also close to home for Martizano and she “heard that Tech has one of the best
programs when it comes to chemistry and biology.”
“It is good to see that Tech is getting the recognition they deserve for being a military-friendly
school,” Martizano said. “They have helped a lot of veterans and dependents in transitioning
and also tried their best to help them with anything.”
Martizano said she felt she had made the right decision in coming to Tech because
she has “met a lot of amazing people who are kind enough to help” her along her college
journey. She said working in the military office has allowed her to connect with other
dependents and bond through that shared experience of growing up with a parent or
parents in the military.
“I also think it is great that Tech has so many opportunities for students, from career
fairs to job opportunities,” Martizano said. “My favorite thing about Tech is that
they have a safe space, lounge for veterans and dependents who might be having a hard
time adjusting. I love how I can go into the Eagle Wings Vet Center freely and not
worry about anything. It is a peaceful and stress-free area; I also love how it is
easy to ask for help if there are things I am having a hard time with.”
Information about military-friendly designations can be found at www.militaryfriendly.com.
Tennessee Tech is ranked as the number one public university in the state, according to Money Magazine, as well as a “Best National University” by U.S. News & World Report. The university offers more than 200 programs of study, and Tech grads leave with the least debt of all public universities in the state. In fact, based on total cost and alumni earnings, Tech provides students with the highest return on investment for any public university in Tennessee, according to PayScale. Find out more at tntech.edu.