UA Doctoral Student Earns Tillman Scholarship

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Sharon Height, a University of Alabama student in the executive doctoral program for higher education administration, is one of 60 U.S. service members, veterans and military spouses chosen as 2015 Tillman Scholars, a program of the Pat Tillman Foundation.

The newly selected class will receive more than $1.7 million in scholarships for higher education.

Height, of Clinton, N.C., served in Afghanistan, which she said prepared her to manage the educational pursuits of diverse individuals through academic preparedness. Learning of Pat Tillman’s legacy during her deployment inspired Height to set a personal goal of enacting global change through her career and education. Her plans include obtaining a leadership position with a college or university while continuing to serve as an academic mentor to junior and noncommissioned officers.

Founded in 2008, the Tillman Scholars program supports our nation’s active-duty service members, veterans and military spouses by investing in their higher education. The scholarship program covers direct study-related expenses, including tuition and fees, books and living expenses, for scholars who are pursuing undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate degrees as a full-time student at a public or private, U.S.-based accredited institution. The selection process for the Tillman Scholars program is highly competitive with up to 60 Tillman Scholars chosen annually. The Pat Tillman Foundation has invested nearly $12 million in academic support since 2004 and named more than 400 Tillman Scholars at 108 academic institutions nationwide.