Transcript for the Piece Audio version of GI Bill

INTRO:

SCHOOL STARTS NEXT WEEK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY IN HELENA.
ENROLLMENT AT THE C-O-T IS UP MORE THAN 12 PERCENT.
OTHER TWO YEAR SCHOOLS IN THE STATE ARE SEEING ENROLLMENT INCREASES OF UP TO 18-PERCENT.
MANY PEOPLE ARE HEADING BACK TO SCHOOL THIS FALL TO START NEW CAREERS OR TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GOVERNMENT LOAN PROGRAMS.
PLUS, THERE’S A BRAND NEW CLASS OF SOLDIERS GETTING TO SCHOOL ON THE NEW G-I BILL.
CAPITOL REPORTER EMILIE RITTER HAS MORE…

SCRIPT:

LEOLA CLUTE JOINED THE MONTANA NATIONAL GUARD IN JUNE 2001.
SHE DID IT PARTLY OUT OF PATRIOTISM AND BECAUSE SHE KNEW SHE COULD GET HELP PAYING FOR COLLEGE.

((FADE IN NATS-COT BOOK STORE))

CLUTE IS AT THE U-M COT BOOKSTORE GETTING READY FOR HER LAST YEAR OF NURSING SCHOOL

CLUTE: “Without being in the military, I would have gotten myself in pretty hefty debt without it.” CLUTE1.WAV :05

AND DEBT IS SOMETHING CLUTE REALLY WANTED TO AVOID.

CLUTE: “I’ve got a three year old daughter, she just turned three. Right now I’m living with my parents I kind of rent from them and stay downstairs. They provide daycare for me while I’m in school, which helps a lot cause then my finances come down.))” CLUTE2.WAV :22

CLUTE WORKS JUST TWO WEEKENDS A MONTH AS AN ON-CALL LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE OR L-P-N.
MAKING TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH.
THROUGH THE NATIONAL GUARD RESERVE G-I BILL SHE GETS ABOUT ANOTHER 530-DOLLARS A MONTH FOR SCHOOL EXPENSES.

CLUTE: “Getting to work as an LPN while I’m going to school for RN, I like that I can get experience in the field before I’m out there, a full RN on my own. So I get a more hands on approach.” Clute3.wav :15

WHILE CLUTE ISN’T PART OF THE POST 9-11 GI BILL OR “NEW” GI BILL, UM HELENA V-A BENEFITS COORDINATOR TAMMY GEORGE SAYS THE SCHOOL IS SEEING A SURGE IN SOLDIERS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW PROGRAM.

GEORGE: “In 2004 we had about 35 students who received GI bill benefits at that point. And this year potentially over 100 students will receive GI benefits this fall ’09.” George.wav :15

MORE THAN HALF A MILLION VETS ARE EXPECTED TO HEAD TO SCHOOL THIS FALL ON THE NEW G-I BILL.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ESTIMATES IT WILL SPEND CLOSE TO 80-BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT DECADE FOR FREE IN-STATE TUITION FOR SOLDIERS.
WHEN SHE GRADUATES IN MAY, LEOLA CLUTE WILL BE THE FIRST PERSON IN HER IMMEDIATE FAMILY WITH A COLLEGE DEGREE.

CLUTE: “There’s a lot of advantages if you’re in the military for all kinds of financial aid. Not just the GI Bill, but the GI bill is definitely a huge relief.” Clute4.wav :11

((FADE IN BOOKSTORE NATS… “ALRIGHT, IT’S $433.75 …THANK YOU”))

CLUTE IS JOINING A LEGACY OF MILLIONS OF VETS WHO HAVE GONE TO COLLEGE UNDER THE BILL.
CONGRESS ENACTED THE FIRST GI BILL AFTER WORLD WAR TWO WHICH PROVIDED A FREE EDUCATION TO MORE THAN 8 MILLION VETERANS…TRULY CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE OF AMERICA IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY.
FOR MONTANA EVENING EDITION, I’M EMILIE RITTER AT THE CAPITOL.