2008 Woodie Awards
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Maggie Te Grotenhuis
Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
There's a new agreement between Kirkwood Community College, the University of Iowa and the Air Force.
This new agreement means that future Air Force cadets will be allowed to take courses at Kirkwood that would be applicable to the Air Force program. This agreement also allows any student considering the University of Iowa as their transfer school to receive more information about the Air Force.
"The two plus two program allows an opportunity for students who are paying their own way and it's also an opportunity for the Air Force to contact students," said Lt. Col Steven R. Nielsen, University of Iowa ROTC Commander.
"I'm very glad I got involved in the program. It's nice to be involved in something smaller and closer. Everyone is friendly and we look out for each other," said University of Iowa Sophomore and Nursing major Terri Byl.
"These students do not necessarily have to be engineering majors. Some of my cadets are nursing majors and even some political science majors. Any degree is applicable, we are willing to take any skills," said Nielsen. Scholarships are also offered. "More than half of my cadets are here on scholarships," Nielsen said. "Last year alone $68 million was spent on scholarships."
There are also different types. Level 1-pays full tuition. Level 2- pays $15,000 tuition. However, with the exception of freshmen, the rest of these students with scholarships are committed to the Air Force at this point.
During these courses there are various activities that are expected from each cadet. There is a leadership lab where all cadets get together for two hours a week. During this time they accomplish objectives, practice marching, aid the public with a community service and they also contribute to a lot of fundraisers as well.
Not everyone is Air Force bound and this new program permits students to only take academics. There are some limitations as to who is allowed to join the Air Force. "Thirty years is the cutoff," Nielsen stated.
If someone is thinking about getting into the Air Force academy, there is a process they will have to go through.
Nielsen said, "Most start as juniors in a totally separate program. It entails a letter from your congressman or retired officer. It's very competitive. They look at your ACT score, GPA, class ranking and overall physical fitness." Around 12,000 students apply each year with only 900 actually finishing.
If someone is West Point bound, they might want to think about starting early. "The West Point application takes awhile. The selection is in the spring and the average ACT score is 27 and GPA is 3.67. It also requires an interview and physical fitness test," said Nielsen.
Byl added that she joined the program because, "It feels good to be part of something bigger than yourself. When you are invloved like this you realise that you are not just another number at the University."
This new agreement means that future Air Force cadets will be allowed to take courses at Kirkwood that would be applicable to the Air Force program. This agreement also allows any student considering the University of Iowa as their transfer school to receive more information about the Air Force.
"The two plus two program allows an opportunity for students who are paying their own way and it's also an opportunity for the Air Force to contact students," said Lt. Col Steven R. Nielsen, University of Iowa ROTC Commander.
"I'm very glad I got involved in the program. It's nice to be involved in something smaller and closer. Everyone is friendly and we look out for each other," said University of Iowa Sophomore and Nursing major Terri Byl.
"These students do not necessarily have to be engineering majors. Some of my cadets are nursing majors and even some political science majors. Any degree is applicable, we are willing to take any skills," said Nielsen. Scholarships are also offered. "More than half of my cadets are here on scholarships," Nielsen said. "Last year alone $68 million was spent on scholarships."
There are also different types. Level 1-pays full tuition. Level 2- pays $15,000 tuition. However, with the exception of freshmen, the rest of these students with scholarships are committed to the Air Force at this point.
During these courses there are various activities that are expected from each cadet. There is a leadership lab where all cadets get together for two hours a week. During this time they accomplish objectives, practice marching, aid the public with a community service and they also contribute to a lot of fundraisers as well.
Not everyone is Air Force bound and this new program permits students to only take academics. There are some limitations as to who is allowed to join the Air Force. "Thirty years is the cutoff," Nielsen stated.
If someone is thinking about getting into the Air Force academy, there is a process they will have to go through.
Nielsen said, "Most start as juniors in a totally separate program. It entails a letter from your congressman or retired officer. It's very competitive. They look at your ACT score, GPA, class ranking and overall physical fitness." Around 12,000 students apply each year with only 900 actually finishing.
If someone is West Point bound, they might want to think about starting early. "The West Point application takes awhile. The selection is in the spring and the average ACT score is 27 and GPA is 3.67. It also requires an interview and physical fitness test," said Nielsen.
Byl added that she joined the program because, "It feels good to be part of something bigger than yourself. When you are invloved like this you realise that you are not just another number at the University."
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