Ohio State celebrates two new Tillman Military Scholars
An Ohio State University undergraduate and graduate student have been named 2017 Tillman Military Scholars. Gretchen Klingler and Michael Nelson are two of just 60 scholars selected from over 2,100 applicants for the prestigious award.
In recognition of their service, leadership and potential, the newly selected class of scholars will receive $1.1 million in scholarships from the Pat Tillman Foundation to pursue their higher education and continue their service in the fields of medicine, law, business, policy, technology, education and the arts. The highly competitive scholarship covers tuition and fees, books and living expenses for active duty service members, veterans and military spouses pursuing higher education.
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| Gretchen Klingler |
Klingler, the university’s first undergraduate to be named a Tillman Military Scholar, is majoring in anthropology and Arabic. She served six years and two deployments in the Air Force as a tactical systems operator and is fluent in the Iraqi dialect of Arabic.
In naming Klingler to the new class of scholars, the foundation noted that she “strives to provide opportunities for immigrants’ and refugees’ stories to be shared with and understood by more Americans.”
“Everyone has a story to tell that could change your life if you only take time to listen,” she wrote in her application.
Michael Nelson, who is earning a Ph.D. in educational studies, served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was deployed once to Iraq.
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| Michael Nelson |
In selecting Nelson, the foundation observed, “Mike’s experience as a deployed Marine taught him resilience, leadership skills, and an empathetic perspective that he carried with him as he completed a master’s degree while working as an English teacher, debate coach, and wrestling coach. As a professor, he hopes to train the next generation of teachers and researchers ways to help them and their students build upon their digital literacy so today’s kids can become successful adults in the 21st century.”
The Pat Tillman Foundation named Ohio State a University Partner in 2014. As part of the Tillman Military Scholars program, Ohio State is a member of an elite network of institutions providing innovative, veteran-specific services and a strong culture of support for military veterans and spouses while providing rigorous academic experiences.
With the selection of Klingler and Nelson, five Ohio State military veteran students have been named Tillman Military Scholars.
In 2008, the Pat Tillman Foundation established the Tillman Military Scholars program to invest in military veterans and their spouses through educational scholarships, building a diverse community of leaders committed to service to others.
The foundation was created to honor Pat Tillman, a former NFL player who left his playing career to enlist in the U.S. Army after 9/11. Tillman served as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan before being killed in active service in 2004.
