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Armstrong honored for its support of veterans, active duty
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Armstrong State University was recently named a Yellow Ribbon Program school in recognition of its support for veterans and active duty military students. The Yellow Ribbon Program allows approved institutions to partner with Veterans Affairs to help cover expenses that exceed the thresholds established under the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

“Armstrong is proud to partner with the Yellow Ribbon Program to help our military students,” said university President Linda M. Bleicken. “We are committed to our veterans and welcome this opportunity to help them meet their financial needs. We want veterans to receive the education they deserve.”

For most student veterans taking classes at Armstrong, the Post 9/11 GI Bill fully covers public in-state tuition. However, some students do not have Georgia residency and are subject to higher out-of-state tuition rates than the VA typically allows. If those students also qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program, the VA will match Armstrong’s amount given to cover their cost of tuition, making a college education easier to obtain.

Armstrong has more than 600 military-affiliated students using benefits. The university is dedicated to veterans and active duty military students and works hard to improve their experience at college. Recently, Armstrong announced plans to waive all mandatory student fees for active duty military students beginning in the fall semester, as those fees are not covered by tuition assistance.

Armstrong has also earned a military friendly designation by MilitaryVetJobs.com and has been ranked on G.I. Jobs magazine’s annual Military Friendly Schools List. The university also recently launched a Green Zone initiative to support active duty military students and veterans on campus.

Effingham School Board Approves $203M budget with Potential Property Tax Increase
2026 budget
This chart illustrates how the Effingham County School District’s $203 million general fund is allocated for fiscal year 2026, including spending on salaries, benefits, transportation, health services, and safety and security. (Courtesy of Effingham School District)
The Effingham County Board of Education approved a $203 million fiscal year 2026 budget Thursday night, reflecting an 11% increase over last year. The rise is largely due to an $8 million spike in health and retirement benefit costs for employees. To help cover the shortfall, the district may raise the property tax millage rate, potentially increasing homeowners’ taxes by up to 12 percent.
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