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March 31, 2003
The chance of a lifetime
Aerospace offers free flight training via CVO Program
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Flying is in Chris Wilson’s blood.
The Indiana State University senior from St. John, credits his father, Dennis Wilson, for passing along his love of flying.
The elder Wilson flew a CH46 Sea Knight helicopter as a Marine in the Vietnam War. He earned two purple hearts during his tour of duty.
Little did he know at the time that his dedication and sacrifice would provide the means for his son to receive a college education and flight training for free.
Children of disabled veterans, police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty and state troopers who are permanently disabled may be eligible to receive tuition and free flight training at ISU through the Child of Veteran and Public Safety Officer Supplemental Grant Program (CVO Program).
"While the market for this is small because of the criteria that must be met, it is a very big advantage for those who are interested in a degree in aerospace technology and receiving flight training," said Greg Schwab, chairman of the department of aerospace technology.
Wilson is one of two aerospace students at ISU currently in the program, with a third going through the application process, Schwab said.
The CVO fee remission program applies only to publicly funded Indiana colleges and universities. The program is administered by the State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana (SSACI) and the flight training program is administered in cooperation with the ISU Department of Aerospace Technology.
"As a public institution with a reputation for providing access to higher education, we want to make sure our current and prospective students have this information," said Tad Foster, dean of the School of Technology. "The loss or injury of a loved one is a traumatic event; one that poses serious roadblocks for family members. I am pleased such a program exists for the children and spouses of disabled veterans, police officers and firefighters."
The CVO program has been administered by universities since the 1930s, said Nick Vesper of the SSACI. In 2001 the SSACI took over the administration of the program.Aid through the program is available to any student who qualifies, regardless of major, Vesper explained. But ISU only recently began offering the program to aerospace technology students.
"The fee remission program has been around for a long time. The CVO program has covered lots of students in every major imagined at both the graduate and undergraduate levels," Vesper said. "But in a sense this is new for ISU because it did not include flight training until recently."
Flight training and the associated mandatory fees and materials covered under SSACI’s fee remission program include flight gear, headset, fuel strainer, applicable aircraft checklist per assigned aircraft, personal protection gear, charts, plotters, primary operations manuals (per assigned training aircraft) and manuals among many other items.
Covered materials and services must be typical and basic and not the most elaborate or most expensive. Students must meet minimum age requirements for each rating pursued.
The CVO program does not cover other fees such as room and board.
Students who might be covered under the veterans’ portion of the program are:
- Certain graduates of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Children’s Home
- Children of Purple Heart recipient or wounded veteran
- Children of deceased or disabled veteran
- Children of POW/MIA from Vietnam War
- Children of deceased police officer or firefighter
- Spouse of deceased police officer or firefighter
- Child of permanently disabled state trooper
- Spouse of permanently disabled state trooper
Wilson wanted to join the military upon his high school graduation in 1999, but his parents talked him out of it . Even though he’s on the civilian side of flying, his dad, who became a drill instructor in the Marine Corp. after Vietnam, taught his son discipline, determination and to always do his best.
"Both of my parents taught me to work hard and that you get what you work for," Wilson said.
Wilson, who is also a 21st Century Scholar, plans to return to ISU next fall as a graduate student to study human resource development. The CVO program will pay for his graduate school, too.
"That’s pretty nice," he said.
If it weren’t for his father and the CVO program, Wilson said he’s not sure how he would have been able to afford college.
"I would have found some other way, through student loans or something," Wilson said. "But with the CVO program, it’s just been great. My dad fought for our country and now he’s being paid back, so it’s nice. It’s been a blessing."
If you qualify:
An application is required to enroll in the CVO
For more information, contact Greg Schwab, chairman of the aerospace technology department, at (812) 237-2641 or aeschwab@isugw.indstate.edu
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Writer:
Jennifer Kearns,
assistant director of public affairs,
(812) 237-8037 or devkearn@isugw.indstate.edu
ISU
Public Affairs:
(812)
237-3773 or http://isunews.indstate.edu