Veteran enrollment at UT Arlington has more than tripled since the 2006-2007 school year, and the Student Veteran Project helps these veterans as they transition into the role of students.

The program will expand for the fall semester thanks to a $122,000 grant from JP Morgan Chase, which is part of their $1 million national commitment to veterans seeking secondary education.

Community leaders and program supporters, including Mayor Robert Cluck and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach, gathered for an announcement of the grant at UTA on Feb. 18.

Maureen Casey, the Director of Military and Veterans Affairs at Chase, said during the reception that she is privileged to work with a team of veterans and witness firsthand what they can do when they set their mind to something.

"If you pair that drive and dedication with an education from a school like the University of Texas at Arlington, there's no stopping you," Casey said.

The money will go toward launching a new part of the Student Veteran Project this fall. Fifty new student veterans will receive support and guidance from peer advocates as they adjust to college life.

Navy veteran La Tonya Davison served for 14 years and said programs that support veterans are invaluable to universities.

"We are almost an invisible demographic, a lot of people don't come into contact with us," Davison said. "Having this support at this school draws in student veterans from all over and allows them to be successful in completing their degree."

Military Times named UTA one of the best colleges for veterans for 2014. The university has a network of programs like the Student Veteran Project that support veterans during their college careers.

Art Peña, an Iraqi veteran and a foreign exchange risk management analyst at Chase, said these programs help veterans deal with what he calls the "unknowns" of returning to civilian life.

"Writing a resume is not something you have to do in the military," Peña said. "Transitioning and trying to explain what you did to a civilian can be really challenging."