Google Grants Posse $1.2 Million Global Impact Award

In November 2013, The Posse Foundation proudly accepted a Global Impact Award from Google at a higher education event for veterans in Washington, D.C. The award, a grant of $1.2 million, will help fund the Posse Veterans Program, which was launched in 2012 to increase veterans’ success in college and the workforce.

Dr. Jill Biden, Second Lady of the United States, delivered opening remarks at the event.

“I have seen it in my own classroom—veterans bring the same determination and focus to their studies that they brought to serving our country,” said Dr. Biden.

This year’s Global Impact Awards were given to programs that show promise in supporting veterans pursuing a college degree. Other recipients of the award are the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, Student Veterans of America, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Together, the Google grants will support data analysis of veterans in higher education. The study will be used to, among other things, help identify colleges with high graduation and achievement rates for veterans, determine the most effective campus programs for veterans, and assess the impact of different education majors on veterans’ employment prospects after graduation.

“Posse is thrilled to receive the Global Impact Award from Google to support our Veteran Scholars and provide information that will help institutes of higher education across the country successfully support veterans to college graduation,” says Posse President and Founder Deborah Bial.

Posse began the Posse Veterans Program in partnership with Vassar College, which admitted the first Veterans Posse in 2013. Wesleyan University became the second Veterans Posse partner and will admit its first cohort in fall 2014.