Source: Lt. Col. George Belin, 785-532-6754, gbelin@k-state.edu
Web site: http://armyrotc.ksu.edu
News release prepared by: Katie Mayes, 785-532-6415, kmayes@k-state.edu

Friday, Jan. 23, 2009

RECORD NUMBER OF K-STATE ARMY ROTC CADETS RECEIVE GREEN TO GOLD SCHOLARSHIPS

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University's Army ROTC program has been so successful at using scholarships to recruit quality cadets that the U.S. Army recently provided the program more scholarships to attract active duty soldiers to K-State.

The Army's Green to Gold scholarship program helps active duty soldiers become officers. The scholarship pays for full tuition, books and fees, and provides a monthly stipend of $300-$500.

Lt. Col. George Belin, head of K-State's department of military sciences, said that usually only one new cadet starts in the spring semester at K-State in the Green to Gold program. This spring semester, however, K-State has five cadets with Green to Gold scholarships.

"This can be attributed to our continued relationship with Fort Riley and our increased focus on promoting the Green to Gold program on post through advertising, personal visits and word of mouth," Belin said. "It is an excellent opportunity for soldiers to transition from being enlisted, or green, to officer status, which is gold."

The Green to Gold scholarships recipients include:

From Fort Riley: Roy Burkhalter, freshman in public health nutrition; Anthony Quinn, freshman in anthropology; and Brian Riconscente, freshman in kinesiology.

Charles Manarang, freshman in sociology, Manhattan.

From out of state: Wade Epley, freshman in business administration, Lake City, Fla.