Soldier to Scholar program at ECU seeks to help student Veterans

Student veterans are getting extra help preparing to begin classes at ECU this fall, thanks to a new 'Soldier to Scholar' bridge program.

The program started on Monday and is funded by a $65,000 National Endowment Grant, secured by Associate Professor Dr. Anna Froula.

The program aims to bring war scholars and student Veterans together to bridge the gap between military service and student life.

Dr. Froula says the students will learn how to think like students again, and hopefully form a support system with each other. She says, "I hope that they are going to feel really confident about their study skills, about their place in the university, about seeing themselves as students and forming their student identity. I want them to feel comfortable on campus. We're doing a lot of orientation, we're going to the library, to the tutoring center. I'll be sure to show them the rec center."

For two weeks, the students will meet from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each day at Belk Hall to discuss war experience and read military-related poetry and literature.

Dr. Froula hopes the students will then be able to start their first semester off strong, later this month.