Pat Tillman Foundation names latest UO scholars

EUGENE, Ore. – (June 12, 2013) – Three students at the University of Oregon have been selected as Tillman Military Scholars by the Pat Tillman Foundation. The UO provides a breadth of support services to military veterans and family members and is one of the Tillman Military Scholar University Partners for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Two new military scholars, Ethan Rocke, a graduate student in multimedia journalism, and Matthew Garretson, who plans to major in human physiology, will join renewing scholar Brian Loftus, law school student, at UO’s recipients for the annual scholarship program.

Tillman Military Scholarships assist with costs for tuition, fees, books and any additional expenses that may be considered barriers to reaching academic goals set by military veterans and family members.

Scholarship recipients must maintain academic standards and are expected to contribute hours of service in their local communities.

Rocke, from Ione, Cal. served in the U.S. Marine Corps and has been awarded $10,000 for one year. Long inspired by Pat Tillman's extraordinary character and strength of conviction, he says, “To be associated with his legacy through my selection as a Tillman Military Scholar is very humbling and an amazing honor for me.”

The scholarship will enable him to fund production of his terminal project for his master's degree. “The Tillman Foundation has truly blessed me with this scholarship, and I am deeply grateful,” he says.

Matthew Garretson, from Chantilly, Va., served in the Army. He will begin his studies at the UO this fall. He has been awarded $10,000 per year for two years. He will use his funding to supplement a Nursing Assistant Certification, as well as pay for rent and life expenses.

“It allows me to attend the University of Oregon without having to take out loans and go into debt,” he says. After graduating, he plans to complete a Master of Physician Assistant Studies program and practice medicine.

About the Pat Tillman Foundation

Family and friends established the Pat Tillman Foundation following Pat’s death in 2004 while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan. Created to honor Pat’s legacy and pay tribute to his commitment to leadership and service, the Pat Tillman Foundation is a national leader in providing educational support and resources to veterans, active-­‐duty service members and their spouses. Inspired by Pat’s attributes of leadership, passion for education and spirit of service, the Foundation annually awards educational scholarships through the Tillman Military Scholars program. Since the Foundation’s inception, more than $9 million in educational support has been invested in individuals committed to a life of service both in an out of uniform, including nearly $4.1 million awarded to 290 Tillman Military Scholars nationwide. For more information, visit: www.pattillmanfoundation.org.

About the University of Oregon

The University of Oregon is among the 108 institutions chosen from 4,633 U.S. universities for top-tier designation of "Very High Research Activity" in the 2010 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The UO also is one of two Pacific Northwest members of the Association of American Universities.

MEDIA CONTACT: Aria Seligmann, UO strategic communications, 541-543-1482, arias@uoregon.edu

SOURCE: Gretchen Jewett, UO non-traditional student programs, 541-346-1123, gjewett@uoregon.edu

Note: The University of Oregon is equipped with an on-campus television studio with a point-of-origin Vyvx connection, which provides broadcast-quality video to networks worldwide via fiber optic network. In addition, there is video access to satellite uplink, and audio access to an ISDN codec for broadcast-quality radio interviews.

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