Thomasville Chapter DAR features program by Thomas U. official

Thomasville Times-Enterprise, Ga.
·3 min read

Mar. 19—THOMASVILLE — The March meeting of the Thomasville Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) featured an interesting program by Stephen Ferguson.

Chapter Vice Regent Michelle Kimbler introduced the speaker. Ferguson serves as vice president for military and corporate relations at Thomas University. He works closely with student veterans and facilitates many of TU's partnership agreements with the military and federal government. Ferguson has an MBA from the University of Maryland, is a past member of the National Association of Institutions for Military Education (NAIMES), past president of the Kansas Advisory Council of Military Education (ACME) and a current member of the Florida Advisory Council of Military Education.

Ferguson said that Thomas University offers a unique military football program, allowing veterans, Guard and Reservists the opportunity to play collegiate football while earning their college degree.

"We've incentivized public service with athletics, so in order for students to play on a team they have to agree to serve in the Guard and Reservist components," said Ferguson.

The Reserve is 39 days a year, which is one weekend a month and two weeks each year of training. In return, they will get world class training, 100% free education and a stipend between $700 to $1,200 a month and the opportunity for retirement and military healthcare. This program also supports Title 1 low-income families in the area and has allowed students to go to school for free and be a part of the Georgia Army National Guard or any Reserved component that they choose to go into, he said.

There is also a veteran's preference for USA government jobs so those with service have a five-point preference when applying for a federal job. Many of the degree programs at Thomas University align with these Federal Government opportunities and TU now has a program with the U.S. Department of Labor to create internships.

Ferguson said that Thomas University was recently selected as the number one most military friendly school in the country and also number one for military spouses. Currently, there are about 300 military students enrolled in programs at TU. The university has created online modality or online courses, which have allowed students from China, Japan and other overseas locations to earn degrees at TU. They have also created an opportunity for service members to transfer in all of their military training as college credit towards their degree.

TU can help service members receive their credentialing and contracting certification. The university has just received an FAA grant to start an 18-month AP program for aviation mechanic certification.

Thomas University also started a think tank, the Armed Services Institute for advocacy and research on national security issues. They assembled a team of subject matter experts from defense contractors to ex-special forces soldiers and CIA to come together and solve problems. The Armed Services Institute is currently working on a special project for the Department of Defense joint small ammunitions program.

The transition to civilian life can be stressful and difficult for the service member as well as their family. The Department of Veteran Affairs Readjustment Counseling Service provides immediate counseling services and referrals to veterans and their families. They have agreed to partner with TU's Veterans' Center as a satellite location.

Thomas University's Center for Military Life supports military families from pre-enlistment to serving on active-duty Guard or Reserve Component to veteran transition programs. The program supports and assists with education and training as well as provide a career opportunity.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With more than 190,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world's largest and most active service organizations. More than one million women have joined the DAR since it was founded. To learn more about the work of today's DAR, visit www.DAR.org. For more information about the Thomasville Chapter DAR, visit thomasville.georgiastatedar.org or facebook.com/ThomasvilleChapterNSDAR.