Wayne State starts 'Wounded Warriors' scholarship

DETROIT (AP) -- Wayne State University recently announced a $1 million gift to create a new scholarship named for a U.S. Army veteran who lost both legs in the Iraq war. The school's College of Engineering and Urban Science released details of the program, named the Col. Gregory Gadson Scholarship for Wounded Warriors. Gadson, a native of Chesapeake, Va., was a standout football player in high school and at West Point. He holds three Bronze Star awards and a Purple Heart. He was severely injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2007, losing his legs and normal use of his right arm. The company Urban Science donated the money for the scholarship, which will pay $50,000 a year for a student to study engineering. The scholarship is available to wounded veterans and veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. "We've all heard stories about how difficult it can be for our returning veterans to find their places in the civilian work force," Jim Anderson, Urban Science president and CEO said in a statement. "Our goal with this scholarship is to provide wounded warriors with the opportunity to earn a degree that will give them the tools to invent a new and rewarding future." The first recipient is Army veteran Steven Patterson, who received a Purple Heart and now has post-traumatic stress disorder. "The opportunity for trained engineers to become successful entrepreneurs through their own inventions is tremendous, and exactly what the Col. Greg Gadson Scholarship will support," said Farshad Fotouhi, Wayne State's dean of engineering. "While many worthy organizations provide wounded veterans with donations, this scholarship will allow them to build a new life." The scholarship was announced at a news conference at the engineering college. Published: Thu, Mar 15, 2012