Victory Media, the premier media entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life, has named the Church of God’s Pentecostal Theological Seminary (PTS) to the coveted Military Friendly Schools® list.
The 2014 Military Friendly Schools® list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.
“Inclusion on the 2014 list of Military Friendly Schools® shows Pentecostal Theological Seminary commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students,” said Sean Collins, Vice President at Victory Media and a nine-year Navy veteran. “The need for education is growing and our mission is to provide the military community with transparent, world-class resources to assist in their search for schools.”
[1]L to R: Robin Sluder, PTS Director of Financial Aid; Steven J. Land, PTS President; Butch Varner, Pastor, The Pointe Church, Chattanooga and Professor at Miller-Motte and Bethel University (click on photo to enlarge).
Robin Sluder, PTS Financial Aid Director, said, “We are excited to receive the Military Friendly Award for the second year in a row. This honor was possible due to the benefits and programs available to military service members and veterans.” Butch Varner, an Army Veteran and Seminary Graduate, praised PTS by commenting, “The Seminary launched my military career as an Army Chaplain. I received an excel-lent education and was well-prepared for the field. As a veteran, interested in returning to their institution to pursue a counseling degree, the PTS financial aid staff made it seemless and I felt very respected for my military service. Going back to school without the stress of financial struggle was tremendous. I was well prepared theologically and clinically and was able to pass the National Counseling exam.”
Varner now serves a pastor of The Pointe Church in Chattanooga, TN and is also a Professor at Miller-Motte and Bethel University. Steven Land, PTS President, added, “We are proud to be honored by Victory Media and proud to honor our veterans, who are so deserving, for over three decades.”
The Military Friendly Schools® media and website, found at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com [2], feature the list, interactive tools and search functionality to help military students find the best school to suit their unique needs and preferences. The 1,868 colleges, universities and trade schools on this year’s list exhibit leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience. These schools have world-class programs and policies for student support on campus, academic accreditation, credit policies, flexibility and other services to those who served.
Now in its fifth year, the 2014 list of Military Friendly Schools ® was compiled through extensive re-search and a data-driven survey of more than 10,000 schools nationwide approved for VA tuition funding. The survey results that comprise the 2014 list were independently tested by Ernst & Young LLP based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media. Each year schools taking the survey are held to a higher standard than the previous year via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of an Academic Advisory Board (AAB) consisting of educators from schools across the country. A full list of board members can be found at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com [2].
A full story and detailed list of 2014 Military Friendly Schools® will be highlighted in the annual Guide to Military Friendly Schools ®, distributed in print and digital format to hundreds of thousands of active and former military personnel in early October.
ABOUT Victory Media Inc: Victory Media is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that has been serving the military community since 2001. Our data-driven Military Friendly® lists are published in G.I. Jobs, Military Spouse, Vetrepreneur media channels, republished in periodicals like USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Fortune