Marble, heavy draperies, and ornate carved panels give the Governor's Reception Room a daunting air of formality. But it didn’t stop three proud military veterans from topping off their suits with baseball caps emblazoned Navy, Coast Guard, Vietnam. The trio of Penn State Abington faculty beamed as Gov. Tom Corbett signed a new law that traces its origins to their goal of ‘contributing forevermore’ to educating veterans.
The legislation, mandating priority registration for vets, is rooted in a policy enacted first at Abington and then throughout the University. The new law requires state colleges and universities to offer priority registration to vets, whose education benefits under the federal GI Bill are only available for a limited time. Otherwise, if required classes are full, the assistance may expire before student veterans complete their education.
James Ulinski, who teaches Human Development and Family Studies, said after the ceremony that he personally invested 1,500 hours of his time making hundreds of calls, holding meetings, sending emails, and using his own money on the statewide effort.
“As a Vietnam veteran with a 20 percent service-connected disability, I can appreciate the opportunities the GI Bill provided for me and my family,” he said. “This legislation is another step in showing our appreciation for the sacrifices they have made.”