Honorably discharged military veterans may apply for $25,000 per year to pursue graduate studies in five schools at Vanderbilt University.
Launched in 2018 with a $25 million gift from the Lee and Ramona Bass Foundation, the Bass Military Scholars program recognizes patriotism, scholarship and leadership qualities of U.S. military veterans. Those individuals selected for this highly competitive program are called upon to engage with the Vanderbilt community and foster dialogue about military values, discipline, character and mission focus.
The first cohort of seven veterans are heading into their second year and the second cohort of nine scholars begin this fall semester. The five Vanderbilt schools participating are the Law School, the Owen Graduate School of Management, the Peabody College of Education and Human Development, the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing. Scholars must attend graduate school full-time. It does not include doctoral studies or online-only programs. Over the life of the scholarship, it’s expected that 40 scholars will complete their graduate degree programs.
“Veterans bring unique life experience to the campus,” says Lt. Gen. Gary H. Cheek (U.S. Army, retired), director of the Bass Military Scholars Program. “The Vanderbilt leadership and the Lee and Ramona Bass Foundation really value the life experience and potential that it can bring to the student body.”
Building a program
Cheek’s Army experience in working on a wide range of issues with many different departments serves him well in overseeing the Bass Military Scholars Program. As director, he works with the admissions offices and deans of the five graduate schools as well as with veteran services.
“I have experience in building consensus,” says Cheek, who retired from the Army in 2018. “That certainly works well in a place of higher education, where people welcome new ideas and critical thinking.”
