Veterans Center

Supporting Our Troops: Paul and Sarah Karon Veterans Resource Center

St. Thomas wants to become the most military-friendly university in the Upper Midwest. The Paul and Sarah Karon Veterans Resource Center is a one-stop shop where veteran students can find information about resources available to them, receive academic, personal and career counseling, and meet with other veterans. The VRC shows the university’s commitment to these Tommies.

Lee Anderson

Donor, Veterans Resource Center

Meet Lee Anderson, West Point graduate and chairman of APi Group, Inc. As a veteran, he has a special appreciation of the support that his fellow vets need in a college environment. Anderson’s lead gift to establish the Veterans Resource Center gives confidence to veteran students that the University of St. Thomas is with them all the way in helping them achieve their educational goals.

Allison Kruse

Marine Corps, St. Thomas Student

Allison Kruse served in the Marine Corps for five years and was not even considering St. Thomas as a college option.

An aunt picked her up from a different college tour and took Allison to St. Thomas for a look. “A transfer counselor was available to talk, and it was decided after that. The fact that the St. Thomas Veterans Association was emerging as an accommodating service for veterans was crucial in my decision to choose St. Thomas.”

Allison is a neuroscience major and would like to work with memory-care patients who have Alzheimer's disease or dementia, and she credits St. Thomas benefactors with creating a wonderful physical space and services for veterans.

“Our donors have given us a space for friendships to build and for us to take ownership of our education without leaving behind our military experience ... We are eternally grateful and have the utmost respect for the ones fueling our success with financial and emotional support.”

Areas of Need

Emergency Loans

Sometimes veteran students have urgent temporary need for financial support because of a late VA check or other unforeseen circumstance. The effort to provide emergency loans has saved more than one dire situation, helping us to retain our students and has been very much appreciated by recipients.

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Gap Scholarships

The GI Bill and other VA benefits can leave a gap in funding to make attending St. Thomas a reality for some veteran students. Special "gap scholarships" for this situation are available on a limited basis, and we are working toward gaining more capacity for this assistance.