Drexel University Online & The School of Education Honor Online Military Students for Academic Excellence

Drexel University Online & The School of Education Honor Online Military Students for Academic Excellence

July 19, 2013

This year, we launched a special partnership with Drexel’s School of Education to honor military students through the Excellence in Education Award for Military Students. The unique award recognizes all military students (veterans, service members, spouses and eligible dependents) who excel academically in Drexel University’s online education programs. 

Forty students were nominated, eight finalists were honored, and three were selected for additional awards. The eight honorees represented a number of the School of Education’s programs, such as Higher Education, Special Education, Mathematics Learning and Teaching, and Educational Administration. 

The finalists have completed or are currently completing their programs online from five states and three countries overseas, including Germany, England and Japan. The honorees represented two of the five branches of service and are comprised of a mother, spouses and active duty and retired service members.

Our first honoree was military spouse Christopher Mills-Winkler, who took advantage of Drexel’s Yellow Ribbon Program to complete the master’s in Educational Administration, with Principal Certification. Now a certified vice principal, Mills-Winkler says he plans to use the experience gained in his supportive role as a military spouse to “start a military family support group at my campus in order to make sure military students and their families receive the support they need to ensure that their students remain successful in school.”

Also honored was Captain Paul Lee Young, a commander for an aviation support battalion in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), who recently returned from a seven-month tour of Afghanistan. He completed the master’s in Higher Education program while on active duty, and will put his degree right to work at his next assignment as an ROTC instructor.

“I have used the skills I learned through my academic coursework to advise soldiers on what schools they should attend,” said Young. “I have helped them find military-friendly programs, ensuring I steer them towards schools that are regionally accredited.”

Major Mary Jayne, another honoree, mentioned how her teachers had a huge impact on her ability to survive, and thrive, throughout her military career. 

“I’d like to do the same for my students, to prepare them the best I can for whatever lies ahead of them when they leave my classroom,” said Jayne.

To qualify for nomination, students must have completed at least 18 quarter credits at Drexel and maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better. Forty students were nominated, eight finalists were honored, and three were selected for additional awards.

This award was developed by Wendy Elliott-Pyle, Patience Ajoff-Foster, both program managers and graduate academic advisors at the School of Education, and Alicia Murphy, marketing associate at Drexel University Online. The students were honored during the School of Education’s annual Honors Day ceremony on June 14, 2013.

Drexel University has been named a “Military-Friendly School” five years in a row by GI Jobs Magazine. One of the many ways Drexel University Online recognizes and appreciates the service and sacrifices of our nation's active and veteran military personnel is through its military tuition reduction program. Active military personnel, veterans and their immediate families (including spouses, children and parents) are eligible for a 10 to 30 percent tuition reduction. To find out more about our discounted tuition rates, please click here.