Otis College of Art and Design and The Ahmanson Foundation Partner in Support of Military Veterans
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) August 28, 2013 -- Otis College of Art and Design is one of 25 select private schools chosen by The Ahmanson Foundation for the Ahmanson Veteran Scholarship Initiative (AVSI), a grant providing assistance to student veterans as they assimilate back into civilian life and work towards completing their education.
Student veterans from all 25 institutions participating in the Ahmanson Veteran Scholarship Initiative are invited to meet at Otis College of Art and Design on September 22 at the Bronya and Andy Galef Center for Fine Arts, 9045 Lincoln Boulevard Los Angeles 90045. Attendees will include William H. Ahmanson, President of The Ahmanson Foundation, and Otis alumnus Kent Twitchell (‘77 MFA Fine Arts), a prominent muralist who served as an illustrator for the United States Air Force in the early 1960s. Last year, Twitchell was commissioned by the Los Angeles County Department of the Military and Veterans Affairs to paint three murals on the interior of downtown Los Angeles’ Bob Hope Patriotic Hall, a memorial to veterans who sacrificed their lives in the Civil War, Spanish American War, and World War I.
Following the reception guests are invited to the opening of “Tapping the Third Realm,” a contemporary art exhibition spanning two galleries and college campuses: Ben Maltz Gallery* at Otis College of Art and Design from 3 to 5 p.m., and Laband Art Gallery at Loyola Marymount University from 4 to 6 p.m.
The Ahmanson Veteran Scholarship Initiative supports the young men and women returning in record numbers from Iraq and Afghanistan. Recognizing that the transition from military life to student life can have its challenges, and that public colleges and universities are not the perfect fit for all students, the Ahmanson Veteran Scholarship Initiative is designed to provide returning veterans with the support needed to attend and ultimately graduate from private institutions of higher learning.
“Otis is honored to be among the institutions chosen by The Ahmanson Foundation to help support veterans and their families,” said Otis President Samuel Hoi. “We take this commitment to heart and look forward to welcoming these courageous men and women into our community, and serving their needs as they pursue their educational goals.”
With an initial combined award of $1,250,000 for the 2013–2014 school year, colleges can determine how best to use the funds to recruit, retain, and educate student veterans. Otis College of Art and Design is applying its $50,000 grant to scholarship awards, supporting five undergraduates with majors in digital media, fine arts, graphic design, and toy design, and one MFA Fine Arts candidate.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill pays tuition and fees up to $18,077.50 for veterans who attend private schools. By participating in the Yellow Ribbon program, Otis College of Art and Design provides additional funds that are matched by the Veteran’s Administration to cover the rest of the students’ tuition and fees. “Otis has been very generous to their veterans, which has allowed us to focus on schoolwork rather than having to worry too much about financial aid issues,” says Nick Edinger, a Digital Media student in his second year who served in the United States Marine Corps. “With the addition of this scholarship, my school year will be financially worry-free.”
ABOUT OTIS COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
Founded in Los Angeles in 1918, Otis College of Art and Design prepares diverse students of art and design to enrich our world through their creativity, their skill, and their vision. The College offers an interdisciplinary education for 1200 full-time students, awarding BFA degrees in Advertising, Architecture/Landscape/Interiors, Digital Media, Fashion Design, Illustration, Graphic Design, Product Design, Painting, Photography, Sculpture/New Genres, and Toy Design; and MFA degrees in Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Public Practice, and Writing. Continuing Education offers certificate programs as well as personal and professional development courses. Additional information is available at http://www.otis.edu.
*Ben Maltz Gallery is part of the Blue Star Museums program: http://bluestarfam.org/Programs/Blue_Star_Museums
ABOUT THE AHMANSON FOUNDATION
Celebrating its 60th year serving Los Angeles, The Ahmanson Foundation primarily serves Los Angeles County, funding cultural projects in the arts and humanities, education at all levels, including health care, programs for the homeless and underserved populations, and a wide range of human services. For more information about the Ahmanson Veteran Scholarship Initiative, please visit http://vetsback2college.com/.
John Axtell, Media Relations, Otis College of Art and Design, http://www.otis.edu, 310-665-6857, [email protected]
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