Island University Fosters Next Generation of Leaders with New Coast Guard Partnership
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Supporting student success and graduating the leaders of tomorrow are just two of the primary goals of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and now, thanks to the new partnership with the United States Coast Guard, supporting students while they pursue their degree in addition to serving their country will become easier. Dr. Kelly M. Quintanilla, president
Two Islanders who are already benefiting from the new agreement are Officers in Training (OT) Amy Herring, a College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative (CSPI) Student and a senior majoring in business management and Alaina Howell, a CSPI Student and a junior majoring in criminal justice. Both say it has been a blessing to get paid to pursue their degrees.
“All I have to do is go to school and I get paid a salary – that’s my job,” shared OT Howell who served in the USCG for two years before she decided to move from Rhode Island to Corpus Christi to pursue her degree. “When I tell students that they can go to school and get paid for it they are like, ‘no way, what’s the catch?’”
OT Herring also encourages other Islander to apply for CSPI and says she is glad she chose to be a part of the program. With 95 percent of Islander students relying on some form of financial aid, the new scholarship and loan forgiveness program is a welcomed addition to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Thanks to College of Science and Engineering and USCG leadership, part of the new agreement will be to help promote CSPI, a scholarship program that is available to candidates enlisted in the Coast Guard as a non-petty officer. In addition to receiving two academic years’ worth of tuition, including financial aid covering books and essential supplies, CSPI students also receive housing allowances, entitlements and all the benefits of being on active duty in the Coast Guard. Seniors or recently graduated Islanders who enlist in the Coast Guard could also have up to $60,000 in student loan debt forgiven through the CSPI Student Loan Repayment Program.
“We are constantly searching for the best people to be part of our team,” said Rear Admiral Thomas. “We know that the leaders of the future are attracted to institutions like Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Institutions that teach ‘service before self’ just like the Coast Guard.”
As part of the agreement, Island University faculty will also have increased opportunities to work with the Coast Guard on projects that could be applied to larger governmental issues such as cybersecurity, marine biology, environmental science and aviation science and technology.
“A&M-Corpus Christi prides itself on being an institution that supports our military,” said President Quintanilla. “We are glad to expand that partnership to the U.S. Coast Guard. Their dedication to service aligns perfectly with the values of the Island University.”
