Professor gives $15,000 to student Iraq War vets
utdmercury.com ^ | 10/2/06 | Cristen Perkowski
utdmercury.com
UTD professor Dr. Aage Moller said he has always respected American troops, especially those serving in Iraq. This year, he's decided to give back: by donating $15,000 a year, out of his own pocket, for veteran scholarships.
And even though he never served and does not know anyone in the military, Moller said he and his wife, Margareta, created the UTD Moller Scholarship for Veterans of the War in Iraq to help troops get back on their feet after serving overseas.
"I thought people who have served in Iraq deserved some recognition," he said. "We're all in the business of teaching, and I thought an education would be a good thing to have."
The application - which states the scholarship is "a declaration of support for the men and women in uniform who served the United States of America in its war against terror" - is due Oct. 16 for spring 2007 awards.
Requirements for the scholarship include submitting a complete application, which can be found at financial-aid.utdallas.edu. The application must include a letter of recommendation and a one page personal narrative.
"I gave $15,000, and I thought I could do that every year for a while," he said. "I would like to do it as long as I'm a professor here."
No specifics have been established on how much money will be distributed or the length of scholarships, said Director of Financial Aid Maria Ramos.
"The UTD Scholarship Committee, when they meet, will decide on how to best distribute the funds based on the number of applicants," Ramos stated in an email.
Approximately 240 veterans are receiving benefits from the GI Bill at UTD, said Buddy Sherbet, veteran's affairs coordinator in Financial Aid office.
The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 - commonly known as the GI Bill of Rights - was made into law by Franklin D. Roosevelt in an effort for to help World War II veterans re-acclimate with civilian life.
"(The scholarship) is a wonderful idea," Sherbet said. "It shows an appreciation for their service, certainly, as well as helps going to school."
"You can't avoid seeing (coverage of the war)," Moller said. "I've listened to these people coming home, and maybe they're not economically taken care of."
Moller has been a neuroscience professor at UTD for nine years. He was born in Denmark and studied at the Karolinska Institute, a medical university in Stockholm.
He moved to the United States in 1974 after he was invited to conduct neuroscience research at the University of Pittsburgh. He was also a professor in neurosurgery for 19 years before coming to UTD.
Moller said he became a U.S. citizen in 1986.
"I like the United States. It's a great country, the best country in the world," he said. |
