Veteran utilizes Miami Regionals tuition assistance and saves GI Bill for grad school
Participating in Work+ as an undergrad means Navy vet Alberto Garay can use military benefits later
Veteran utilizes Miami Regionals tuition assistance and saves GI Bill for grad school
After more than nine years in the Navy, many of them serving aboard ship as a machinist mate, Alberto Garay was ready to start a new career as a civilian. A college education was part of his plan for the future, and he looked to Miami University Regionals to help fulfill this dream.
He moved to West Chester to be with his girlfriend after living in San Diego where he had been stationed.
“I knew that a college degree would lead to a higher paying job,” he said. “I mainly chose (Miami Regionals) because it was close by. But I didn’t realize how much I would love it. The professors are great, and I love the small size.
“My advisors made the transition from the Navy pretty easy, better than I expected. I also got credit for some of the courses I had taken during my training.”
His military service meant he could use the GI Bill to pay for tuition and living expenses, so affordability wasn’t an obstacle. But Garay realized he might want to save some of his GI benefits for graduate school, where he eventually hopes to earn a master’s degree in Public Administration. He took advantage of Miami Regionals Work+ Program to pay for tuition and earn spending money while he was an undergrad.
He works part-time with West Chester Township as an administrative assistant. The Work+ agreement means that the city pays him an hourly rate based on his job title as well as paying for his tuition bills each semester. While the financial benefits have been invaluable, Garay said the work experience and the support he gets from his Work+ advisor have been vital with his transition from the military to civilian life.
“In the Navy, I worked my way up to lead an engine room of about 40 machinist mates servicing a reactor on the USS Theodore Roosevelt. I had the work skills and the soft skills, but they were oriented to the Navy. I wanted to adapt my skills to fit civilian life. This job experience is helping me do that.
“With Work+, your advisor also checks in with you to see how you’re doing. If you need help, your advisor is there to step in and get you what you need. I was struggling with a class, and she reached out, which really helped. It’s been a pillar of support for me.”
Garay expects to graduate in 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in Small Business Management, with plans to study for a master’s degree afterward. He said he feels excited about his future.
“I feel good about where my education might lead,” he said.
