The new USM ROTC Grant, when coupled with a full U.S. Army ROTC scholarship, will cover tuition, room and board, and fees at the University of Saint Mary for eligible ROTC students. Full Army ROTC scholarships cover tuition and mandatory fees as well as providing a book stipend, with the USM ROTC Grant covering room and board costs.

To qualify, incoming first-year students must meet minimum academic requirements. Only residential students are eligible for the USM ROTC Grant.

"At USM, we continue to look for ways to show our appreciation to our military friends and families," said Brandon Johnson, former director of admissions at USM. "This institutional grant shows that we are serious about expanding the ROTC enrollment and our overall support for military students. Also, our relationship with the Army ROTC adds another option for helping quality students afford the great college education offered at Saint Mary."

USM's ROTC effort is part of the University of Kansas ROTC Jayhawk Battalion, which also involves the ROTC programs of several other area learning institutions including Mid-America Nazarene University, Haskell Indian Nations University, and Kansas City, Kan., and Johnson County community colleges.

USM ROTC Cadet Chris Mazzia prepares for a weekend flight aboard a CH-47 helicopter in April 2009.
USM Cadets served as the Color Guard at the university's annual Lincoln Lecture in February 2009.