Source: Melinda Sinn, 785-532-5888, sinnpio@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Rosanna Vail, 785-532-2720, rvail@k-state.edu
Monday, May 5, 2008
K-STATE STUDENT FEATURED IN MILITARY SPOUSE MAGAZINE
Manhattan -- A Kansas State University student from Fort Riley has been featured in a magazine for military spouses.
The April 2008 issue of Military Spouse magazine included a student profile on Leigh Garza, a junior in pre-professional business administration at K-State. The profile also highlighted K-State's educational opportunities for today's military spouses.
After moving her family from Fort Hood, Texas, and being stationed at Fort Riley, Garza earned an associate degree in science through Barton County Community College courses offered on post, a partnership effort between the community college and K-State. For the spring 2008 semester, she decided to continue her education by earning a bachelor's degree through K-State.
Garza's method for completing her degree will be the traditional way -- attending classes on campus rather them taking them online or in the evenings.
"I was apprehensive about going back to school at first, being older and married," Garza said. "I didn't know what the atmosphere was going to be like, but it's been great."
With a full load of classes and a lot of enthusiasm, Garza said she fits right in with students who come to campus directly after high school. She said she feels fortunate to have the opportunity to take classes on campus, as it gives her a more stable schedule for spending time with her son.
"It's great because it doesn't affect him," Garza said. "I'm still the one picking him up from school every day."
In addition to being able to manage her schedule, Garza said there are many other benefits to attending K-State. Chief among them was the in-state tuition rates for military students and their dependents stationed in Kansas, as well as the ease of transferring credits from other colleges.
"So many of my hours transferred here, even from my community college," Garza said. "And the process of transferring them was easy."
Even if Fort Riley is not the last stop for her family, Garza can take her credits with her wherever she goes thanks to K-State's distance education programs and special programs with the military. Garza can finish her degree from anywhere in the world.
One never knows what the future may hold when enlisted or married to a military officer, but Garza is determined to complete her bachelor's degree from K-State.
I'm just going to go to school full time and get it done," she said.
More information about programs available through K-State's Division of Continuing Education is available by calling 1-800-622-2578 or online at http://www.dce.k-state.edu.