FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 11, 2003
Contact: Ward Mullens
734.487.4400
ward.mullens@emich.edu

EMU offers Army POW scholarship to become kindergarten teacher

YPSILANTI - Eastern Michigan University’s College of Education has extended an offer of a “full-ride” scholarship to PFC Jessica Lynch, the soldier who was rescued from an Iraqi hospital April 1. Lynch, of West Virginia, was a member of the 507th Maintenance Company, which was ambushed near Nasiriyah March 23.

“We heard that PFC Lynch wanted to become a kindergarten teacher and we think there is no better place to do this than Eastern Michigan University,” said Jerry Robbins, dean of EMU’s College of Education.

“Each year we prepare about 100 people to become new kindergarten teachers and we would be honored for her to be one of them when she is finished with her military service,” Robbins said.

EMU is the nation’s leading producer of K-12 educational personnel, according to the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. EMU graduates have won the National Educator Award from the Milken Family Foundation 23 times, more than any other school in the nation. Eastern graduates also have been named National Teacher of the Year (1992), Michigan Teacher of the Year, Michigan Secondary Principal of the Year, Michigan Elementary Principal of the Year, and Michigan Superintendent of the Year.

A “full-ride” scholarship at EMU includes the value of tuition and fees up to 15 credit hours for fall or winter semester, as well as the value of a double room and standard meal plan.

Eastern Michigan University (www.emich.edu) is a four-year, comprehensive metropolitan University committed to the needs of its students and communities through teaching, research and service. EMU offers more than 400 programs in the arts, sciences and professions through traditional classroom settings, off-site continuing education classes and on-line courses. EMU is the fifth largest University in Michigan, serving more than 24,500 students from around the world and offers undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate programs.

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