Giving Back to Those Who Serve

Following a career serving their country, many veterans find it challenging to translate their military experience directly into a civilian career. Pursuing advanced degrees, particularly the MBA, can help with a career transition for veterans who have significant leadership and management experience in an area that doesn’t directly correlate with civilian employment.

The Newman’s Own Foundation has been a longtime supporter of military personnel, veterans, and their families. Actor Paul Newman’s experience as a young man serving in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II helped shape his philosophy that much of his success was attributed to luck. With the Newman Foundation, he committed to giving back to others who might not have been as lucky as he was.

Since 2015, the Newman’s Own Foundation has supported the Carlson School’s efforts on behalf of veterans through recruitment and scholarship funding for military students enrolling in the school’s FullTime and Part-Time MBA programs, through their support of the Carlson School’s Military Veterans Initiative.

Through the Military Veterans Initiative, the Carlson School offers a unique recruiting and support program designed to welcome veterans into civilian life and assist them as they move through the coursework, internship, and career search stages—and ultimately, into a civilian career. Launched in 2012 with two students, the Military Veterans Initiative now serves more than 40 students between the first and second-year classes. Approximately 15 to 20 percent of each MBA class is now made up of veterans.

Led by Charles “Chip” Altman, a retired Naval Commander, the program provides financial support to veterans, and a strong network of professionals and peers working together to help veterans succeed.
 

“I am honored to be helping veterans transition into civilian life or change careers with an MBA,” Altman says. “Newman’s Own has been an integral part of the success of the program by providing the necessary funding needed by veterans to make this transition. Together, we have been able to assist several hundred veterans through the Carlson MBA Military and Veterans Program.”

The Carlson Veterans Club also provides a network of peers with a shared experience that may be quite different from the more traditional corporate backgrounds of other classmates.

While many veterans make use of the GI Bill to assist with the cost of attending, there may be a gap between GI Bill funding and financial need. And veterans, who may be older than their non-veteran peers when entering the program, are more likely to have a family to support. In recognition of this, and in thanks for their service, all Full-Time MBA veteran students receive scholarship funding from the Carlson School.

The Carlson School is committed to serving the veteran community. Thanks to the partnership of individual donors, corporate partners, and foundations like the Newman’s Own Foundation, the school has built a program so robust that it was named by Military Friendly as No. 1 in the nation in the category of graduate schools.