Armed Forces Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May, which this year is May 18, 2013. Created in 1949 and first observed in 1950, this holiday was established to recognize and honor all five military branches: the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard.

At The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Division, we recognize the service and commitment of our military students every day by helping them to get started on the next phase of their career. We have staff members dedicated to working with military and veterans students, and we are proud to be listed as a Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs (http://www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/), an honor reserved to only 15% of schools nationwide. 

Below are three of the ways we recognize our military and veteran students.

1. Offering Transfer of Credit for Your Military Experience

We want to recognize your extensive military training and experience, whether you are a veteran or a current member of the military. Once you submit the paperwork, we’ll review your experience and training to determine your eligibility for credit toward your academic program. This transfer of credit could help you to cut expenses and graduate in less time.

For information on how to submit your military experience and training for university credit, please visit http://www.aionline.edu/military/.

2. Providing Military Aid & Benefits

Complete information on our military aid and benefit programs can be found on our Miltary Aid page, and you can speak with a Military Admissions Representative by calling 1-877-300-3656. Before you do, here’s a quick overview.

For Military Personnel & Spouses: We are pleased to offer a special military scholarship of 10% to eligible Active Duty, Active Guard and Reserve, as well as Spouses of Active Duty and Active Reserve military personnel.

For Veterans: Our military scholarship of 10% is extended to eligible veterans, and we participate in the Post 9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program. Furthermore, veterans using the educational benefits provided under the Montgomery GI Bill will find that a significant portion of their tuition expenses will be covered or reimbursed.

3. Waiving Fees

The Online Lab Fee, Enrollment Fee and the Application Fee are waived for Active Duty and Active Guard and Reserve, as well as for Spouses of active duty military personnel. The application fee is waived for all veterans and spouses who qualify for the Veteran Scholarship.

Read more at http://www.aionline.edu/tuition/military-aid/. Or, get information on the following programs:

• Ch 30 Montgomery GI Bill 
• Ch 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill 
• Yellow Ribbon Program 

In the second part of our interview with Sherri Mangin (Program Director for the Residential Planning and Kitchen & Bath Design programs at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh—Online Division), we learn more about her experience at 2013 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in New Orleans with her student Ashley Kulesa.

Related Posts: Inside the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show: Part 1 & Student Named Top Young Industry Professional

How do you think Ashley benefited from attending the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS)?
SM: Ashley and I ran into each other on the day her group began their assignment for the presentation, and her group members were struggling to decide on their roles in the presentation. I shared my observation that this was possibly an indicator that no one was acting as a leader in the group. We discussed how a leader is able to look at the big picture, recognize the strengths of the individuals, delegate tasks according to those identified strengths and then pull it all together.

Ashley emerged as the leader for her group and their presentation was cohesive, relevant and strong. Ashley did not feel the need to be one of the three people who presented the material, which was equally impressive to me. She really took this opportunity to explore her own leadership skills which opened some major opportunities for this exceptional young woman.

How this will benefit other students in the program and the school as a whole?
SM: Ashley and her experience are inspirational to other students and extremely rewarding for the faculty members who have had a hand in her education. She represented herself, the Kitchen & Bath program and The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Division beautifully!

Did you have time to do anything outside of the conference?
SM: I conducted a scientific study on bread pudding served in New Orleans. OK, I may have gotten some solid research in on shrimp as well. I took a ton of pictures of the architecture in the French Quarter and rode the street car the length of St. Charles Avenue. I walked miles and miles and got lost a million times. Each time I got lost, I ended up in another amazing place!

Musicians are everywhere! Some are so amazing they take your breath away and others, well, let’s just say they need to keep their day jobs. One of the best vocalists I have ever heard was a waitress who sang an old gospel song that raised goose bumps on my arms and tears in my eyes.

What else would you like to share about the experience?
SM: The wealth of information available to bring back to my students and faculty was so energizing!

We are implementing many new initiatives based upon my experiences at KBIS. It was truly a gift to be able to be in New Orleans to see Ashley and her contemporaries be honored for their achievements!

In the United States, May is National Photography Month, and we’re celebrating by sharing some impressive photography from our students.

Photo By: William Wotring, Associate of Science in Photography

Photo By: William Wotring, Associate of Science in Photography

Photo By: Traci Peterson, Associate of Science in Photography

Photo By: Rob Heber, Associate of Science in Photography

Photo By: Penny Anthony, Associate of Science in Photography

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Division offers several online photography programs, including the following: Bachelor of Science in Photography, Associate of Science in Photography, Digital Workflow Certificate, Portrait Photography Certificate and Studio Photography Certificate. Learn more here.

From April 19-21, 2013, faculty member Sherri Mangin attended the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in New Orleans with student Ashley Kulesa.

Ashley, a student in the Kitchen & Bath Design Associate of Science degree program at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Online Division, was named to the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s (NKBA) 30 under 30 list and attended KBIS with all expenses paid!

(Read our first post about Ashley Kulesa’s 30 under 30 recognition.)

Sherri (referred to as SM below) is the Program Director for our Residential Planning and Kitchen & Bath Design programs. Today, she’s giving us an inside look at her KBIS 2013 experience in part one of a three-part series!

What talks did you attend as part of KBIS?
SM: I attended the presentation of the NKBA 30 Under 30 on Friday morning and I attended the presentations given by this group on Sunday. I wasn’t registered to attend any of the other sessions, but I wish I had done that since there were many topics that would have benefited my students! Next year, if I get to attend, I will do things differently!

What was your favorite part of attending KBIS?
SM: My favorite part of this experience was spending time with my student and celebrating the well-deserved recognition she received for NKBA’s 30 Under 30! I had never met Ashley in person since she is an online student living in Florida, and I live in Colorado.

Having the time to meet with Ashley was fabulous! It is just such a rare treat to be able to spend time with a student in real time. I did get a chance to speak to some of the other 30 Under 30 honorees as well, and they really are impressive individuals with ambition, drive, discipline and follow-through.

The next thing I absolutely loved was exploring all of the Kitchen and Bath vendor booths and gathering valuable information and resources for the Kitchen & Bath, Residential Planning and Interior Design students. This is where the newest and most innovative products are revealed, and it was very exciting to see it all first hand. By sharing these products in the Interior Design Help Forum, in the classroom and through workshops, I am able to put every student on the cutting edge of the industry.

So, had you taught Ashley before?
SM: Yes, I taught Ashley in her first internship class and will have the pleasure of teaching her again soon as she begins her second internship course. Ashley proved herself to be exceptional from the first day with her positive attitude, thorough responses to the assignments and 100% professionalism.

Ashley isn’t one to settle for the minimum an assignment asks for and seeks out additional information. In short, she is an amazing student and allowed herself to be taken to the next level in her education which is an educator’s dream!

What was the most important thing you got out of the experience?
SM: I have the best job in the world! Seriously! One of my students is recognized for being amazing, and I got to go to a fabulous city and watch it all unfold! Then I get to go back home and work to bring all of this awesome experience to my faculty and my students.

--Stay tuned for Part 2 of our interview with Sherri Mangin and Part 3, an interview with Ashley Kulesa!

We know that everyone's financial situation is unique, which is why each of our students works with a dedicated Student Finance Counselor to determine a financial plan that works for them. As part of financial planning, our Student Finance Counselors stress responsible borrowing. But, what exactly does that mean?

Responsible borrowing entails detailed planning and analysis of your finances and your financing options to decide what is right for you. If you choose to take out loans, responsible borrowing means only doing so after looking at alternative options and only borrowing what is necessary. While students sometimes limit their search to federal sources, federal financial aid often means loans and doesn't necessarily cover all of your expenses.

Below are some of the alternative options that we recommend you consider before you turn solely to federal loans.

1. Make Cash Payments

Establishing a monthly tuition payment plan can greatly reduce the cost of your education. Your contribution doesn’t need to be large, but every bit you pay now is something you won’t have to pay later or pay interest on down the road.

2. Get Military Financial Aid if You Qualify

If you or a family member has served in the military, you may be eligible for military financial aid, including our school’s military scholarship. We also participate in the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the Yellow Ribbon program. Don’t miss out! Visit http://www.aionline.edu/tuition/military-aid/, or call 1-877-300-3656 to speak with a Military Admissions Representative for more information on these programs.

3. Ask about Employer Partnerships

We partner with a number of companies to offer employees incentives for continuing their education—from corporate rates to the waiving of select fees. See our list of partners here. If your employer isn’t listed, you may still qualify for financial assistance through your company.

There are two common types of employer assistance programs. Employer reimbursement programs require you to pay tuition up front. You then provide documentation to your employer stating how much you paid and showing that your coursework is relevant to your career. Your employer pays you back for your tuition and expenses. Employer sponsorship programs, conversely, involve your employer paying the school directly for approved coursework. If you aren't sure what educational benefits your employer offers, ask your manager or your human resource representative.

4. Search for Scholarships and Grants

Many organizations (including local, national, private and non-profit groups) offer scholarship opportunities or grants to students who meet specific criteria. Many people think scholarships are reserved only for students with superior grades or athletic ability. However, this is not necessarily the case.

For example, many scholarships exist for students pursuing specific careers. Plus scholarship criteria can sometimes be quite idiosyncratic. For example, scholarships exist for left-handed students or students whose last names start with Z! So make a list of everything unique about you and start searching.

Learn More about Financial Planning

If you want to go to school (or you’re already here), don't limit yourself to relying only on federal loans when there are other ways to make school affordable and reduce your future debt.

Request more information today, or talk with your Student Finance Counselor to discuss your financial plan.