June 20, 2024; Ethan Springfield ’24 is commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marines in a ceremony at the Basilica east door. (Photo by Matt Cashore/University of Notre Dame)
Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business is preparing to launch one of the country’s most comprehensive financial support programs for military MBA students.
It’s called the Angrick Military Scholars Program, and it’s backed by a $15 million endowment. The program is designed to remove the financial pressure that so often follows veterans and active‑duty service members as they transition from service into business school.
HOW THE SCHOLARS PROGRAM CAME TO BE
During an early‑morning workout with others from the Notre Dame community, Senior Associate Dean Nick Berente realized something wasn’t right. These gym sessions often had a mix of dedicated students and professors. One day, Berente and the others noticed that a regular, Mitch Cucinotta, a military student, had stopped coming to the workouts.
Senior Associate Dean, Nick Berente (left) and MBA Kelvin White (right)
“We asked him why this was,” Berente recalls. Cucinotta explained that with his wife in town, their kids in daycare, and the cost of living piling up, something had to give. “They just simply couldn’t afford it all.”
That moment stuck with Berente, who says he’s seen several others in this same dilemma.
Notre Dame already leverages the GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program to cover tuition for most military students. “If you’re a single person living in South Bend, Indiana, that’s usually just fine,” Berente says.
The financial problems tend to rack up when they are supporting their spouse as well, and a family. Even with tuition covered, the financial pressure on families can be intense.
“Here we have these ambitious young men and women who serve our country trying to transition into careers … the last thing we want them to do is graduate with debt,” says Berente.
A $15 MILLION GIFT FOR MILITARY MBAs
About a year ago, Berente found himself in New York City for a Wall Street dinner with Notre Dame alumnus Bill Angrick.
Before the event, the two met in a hotel lounge and began discussing military students. Angrick, who comes from a strong military family alongside his wife Stephanie, was already thinking about how to give back. Berente told him Cucinotta’s story.
“This conversation and Cucinotta’s story was likely one of the factors that led him to make the gift. He cares deeply about military students in situations like his feeling supported,” shared Berente. Some time after their conversation, the Angricks made the $15 million gift.
In the Angrick’s agreement for the military scholars program, they emphasized the funds going to those with families. Up to ten scholars each year will be selected, and in the words of Bill Angrick, the candidates must demonstrate “leadership, integrity, excellence, and love of country.”
Notre Dame campus in fall – courtesy photo
Applications are already rolling in, and senior leadership is reviewing the first potential cohort.
MILITARY MBAs HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO LEAD
Notre Dame as whole has been leaning into filling national priorities – working on training leaders in supply chain resilience, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship.
Military students, he says, are some of the best people to lead in these areas.
“They’ve run organizations, just in a military context,” says Berent. “Here, we train them to lead in finance, tech, or consulting for example. They leverage their skills that they already have, just in a new context. They are preparing to use them in the private sector.”
The career outcomes are quite strong. Amazon is Notre Dame’s top recruiter, followed closely by PwC and IBM. “They absolutely love hiring our military students,” Berente says.
THE SCHOOL’S ACTIVE CLUBS & ALUMNI
One of Notre Dame’s most powerful assets is the school’s alumni network. Military alumni regularly return to campus, mentoring students, speaking in classes, and staying connected long after graduation.
The school is now exploring ways to formalize and expand that engagement, ensuring future military MBAs have an even stronger support system waiting for them.
Quite popular among military students is Notre Dame’s military veterans club which is highly supported by the broader Notre Dame MBA community.
“Being a part of this club is a nice way for these students to transition,” says Berente. “They get to be with their Notre Dame military community as they integrate into their new lives as business leaders.”
Military and non‑military students become close and show up for each other’s milestones and traditions. The club’s annual Veterans Ball is open to all MBAs, and draws a big crowd of non‑military classmates who see it as one of the year’s most meaningful events.
On Veterans Day, it’s the same story. Students from across the program pack into a speaker session to hear their military peers share their experiences, listening with genuine interest and deep respect.
World War I door at Notre Dame – courtesy photo
‘THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING’
Looking ahead, Berente hopes this will be a launching point for support for their military students. “I hope that this is just the start of a series of investments and initiatives to strengthen our ties with the military and national priorities,” he says.
Notre Dame’s identity summed up in its iconic tagline, “God, Country, Notre Dame” aligns naturally with the values of military students.
At a moment when bridging national priorities with the private sector is super critical,” Berente believes the Angrick gift will grow, evolve, and ultimately support even more students. “Hopefully five years from now, it will be supporting even more students,” he says.
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