College Times

Media Credit: Ryan Ruiz

The US Senate passed a new GI Bill last week with a hefty increase in college assistance for military service members who serve after September 11, 2001.

With the government footing the bill (pending presidential approval) – an additional $63 billion over 10 years to cover full in-state tuition and fees, a monthly housing stipend and $1,000 yearly for books and supplies – more veterans than ever are expected to flood college campuses nationwide.

But the shift from battlefield to classroom is an arduous one, as Kyler Marutzky, 25, a former staff sergeant in the Air Force and current Arizona State University student, can attest. After a long stint serving in Texas, New Mexico, Korea and finally Arizona, he decided to pursue an engineering degree, but found it difficult to get back into the swing of things.

That’s where ASU’s Veterans Upward Bound Program came into the picture. The free program offers classes in English, math and computer skills, as well as guidance to help the transition for veterans like Marutzky a little bit easier.

Marutzky recently spoke with College Times about his own successes in the program.

College Times: How did you hear about the Upward Bound program?

Kyler Marutzky: I heard about it through the VA rep there at ASU … whenever I came to Upward Bound, I wasn’t very good at math. My English was pretty bad, too. I had been out of school for seven years, so I needed to brush up on stuff, because I want to be an engineer. So I knew there was a lot of math requirements. I didn’t do very good at math when I was in high school, so I was like, ‘okay, I’d better take advantage of everything I can.’ I went through the program, did both math and English, and learned a lot of math. Actually, became very good at math, and it gave me pretty much all the tools I need to succeed in all my math classes. I got an A-plus in calculus and an A in pre-calculus. So my grades reflect how much it’s done for me. Without this program, I don’t think I would have done this good.

What has been the most helpful part of the program?

I’d say how much the instructors cared for my future. It was just pretty amazing that other people had compassion for me to succeed, not just myself. That gave me boosted confidence.

Do a lot of people you know take advantage of the GI Bill, as you did?

I’d say probably about two or three out of 10 people use their GI Bill, amongst my friends. The rest of them stayed in the military.

Why such a low number? With how high tuition fees are climbing, it seems like one of the better benefits of having served in the military.

The military is a good thing. They really take care of you. It’s hard to separate, just because you get a steady paycheck. Especially for people that have family. It’s hard to get out of the military and start going to college full-time and take care of a family at the same time. That’s why a lot of my friends didn’t get out because they put their family first. The other reason, I guess; people like the military.

Was it difficult adjusting from your time serving in the military to civilian life, and life as a student?

It was difficult for about the first three or four months, because I wasn’t sure if I made the best decision I could’ve, just because I had been out of school for so long. But once I started going to school, and after I had gone through the Upward Bound program, I’m really happy I got out. The transition was rocky at first, but I had done it for seven years. If had gotten out, and was just okay with everything, then there’s something wrong with me.

Veterans Upward Bound, 1270 E. Broadway Road, Suite 122, Tempe, 480.965.1292

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