CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Saturday marks the start of a week-long academic boot camp held at the University of Illinois.

This summer, a new group of enlisted student veterans will engage in a STEM academic boot camp from June 21-28 at the U of I. This program is facilitated and designed in partnership with national nonprofit Warrior-Scholar Project (WSP) and will provide an immersive college preparatory experience.

This specific program requires each participant to complete 75 academic hours, which would simulate a typical “finals week” in college. The purpose of this is to prepare student veterans for the demands of academic life as they transition from military careers to higher education.

Every year, over 115,000 veterans transition from military service to civilian life, and for many, enrolling in college is an important step in starting a new career.

In this boot camp — hosted by the Chez Veterans Center, the hub for military populations at the U of I — veterans learn from esteemed Illinois faculty, work with research leads, receive personalized mentorship from successful student veterans and familiarize themselves with campus resources.

“WSP was more influential than I could have ever expected,” said Navy veteran Adam Sherman, a WSP-Illinois alumnus. “I was pretty anxious on my way here, but the entire process fostered and reinforced such a motivating and positive mindset that I will carry throughout my entire academic journey. I would do it again a million times over.”

Additionally, 88% of WSP alumni have completed or are on track to earn a college degree. This surpasses the national average for veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill (54%) and full-time civilian students (61%).

Support from the U of I and investments made by foundations, corporations and private donors cover the program’s entire cost for participants. The college has partnered with WSP for four years.