FSW Veterans Benefit from Scholarship Endowment
Apr 10, 2015
Members of Cape Coral’s Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA) of Southwest Florida Chapter 155 proudly presented Florida SouthWestern State College President Jeff Allbritten with their annual donation for veteran scholarships.
The KWVA donates $1,000 to the College each year to help a veteran student. They also contributed $2,500 to a scholarship endowment established in 2014 – now totaling $17,500 – so other veterans can attend FSW in the future.
“The KWVA believes that it’s important for our veterans to have access to educational opportunities so they will be able to enter the Southwest Florida workforce with the most relevant and competitive skills,” said Bob Kent, treasurer for KWVA Chapter 155. “We created the endowment to help our fellow veterans. It will be on record long after we’re all gone.”
Omar Ortiz received the Korean War Veterans scholarship this year. A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Ortiz served active duty in the U.S. Army for five years before transitioning to the U.S. Army Reserves to go to college.
He is a full-time student at FSW who also works part-time. Ortiz said he never would’ve been able to devote as much time to studying if not for the scholarship.
“The scholarship decreased my financial burdens and allowed me to focus more time and energy to my classes instead of working longer hours,” he said. “I want to thank the KWVA for their contributions and their commitment in facilitating the success of fellow veterans.”
Ortiz will graduate this summer with his Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Safety Administration degree from FSW. He plans on working in emergency medicine.
FSW serves an average of 500 students receiving veteran’s benefits each year. All of these students can apply for various forms of financial assistance with the help of the Office of Veterans Affairs.
“Veterans attending FSW train in a variety of fields,” said Dr. Louis Traina, Vice President of Institutional Advancement. “They proudly serve our country and then work throughout Southwest Florida as paramedics, nurses, firefighters, and more. We are thankful to have them.”
About the FSW Foundation:
Since 1966, the Florida SouthWestern State College Foundation has been enhancing the quality of higher education for FSW students and faculty. The FSW Foundation has awarded $1.2 million for student scholarships and $700,000 in academic support to the college annually since 2011. The Foundation’s focus is attracting and managing private contributions from individuals, organizations, businesses and other private foundations to support the college’s mission. To learn more about the non-profit, tax-exempt FSW Foundation or to make a gift, visit foundation.fsw.edu.
About FSW:
Florida SouthWestern State College is Southwest Florida’s largest and one of the most affordable institutions of higher education. Annually serving more than 22,000 students globally, FSW offers a variety of nationally-ranked, career-focused academic programs with two- and four-year degrees, and professional certifications. Students are also active in clubs and programs catered to their interests. FSW will debut its intercollegiate athletics program in the fall 2015. Visit www.FSW.edu for more information.
Last Updated: April 10, 2015
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