STUDENT VETERANS ESTABLISH NATIONAL COALITIONStudent veterans from across the country will converge in Washington DC, June
11-13 to continue to work to to enhance coordination between student veterans groups on college and university campuses nationwide. The Student Veterans of America (SVA) addresses issues facing student veterans, including education benefits and resource development on college campuses. Student veterans from across America will gather to discuss the future of this new organization during the two-day conference.
“The majority of campuses throughout the country currently lack the infrastructure to adequately support returning veterans in their transition from servicemember to student,” said SVA President Derek Blumke of the University of Michigan, “our goal is to educate universities, as well as state and federal representatives on an issue they have left mostly unaddressed.”
Through grassroots efforts by student veterans, Student Veterans of America is beginning to advocate for much needed changes to current policies dealing with the transition of veterans to campus life...
SVA has already begun to assist student veterans in the development of new student veteran organizations at their respective universities. In the future, SVA will continue to educate individuals on the student veteran experience both on and off-campus, as well as work toward assisting universities in providing much needed resources and programs for student veterans.
”The creation of the SVA was inevitable,” said SVA Vice President Anthony Allman of UCLA, “student veterans nationwide experience significant obstacles when returning to school. This meeting affirms that it’s not an individual issue but something more systemic. We aim to make the transition process easier resulting in more college educated veterans.” When asked the importance of veterans education, Anthony responded, “Veterans possess the experience to become great leaders, it’s just a matter of putting the knowledge in
their hands.”
As part of its core mission, SVA is committed to placing student veterans’ resource offices and coordinators on college campuses. These resource offices will assist veterans in educating them on their benefits, providing them with the resources required to succeed in school, and in their transition to
civilian life.
“Veterans are incredibly intelligent and well-rounded individuals,” noted SVA President Derek Blumke of the University of Michigan, “they simply need resources established when they arrive on campus to welcome them with open arms. Many schools do not have programs set up, and this is simply unacceptable.”
The Student Veterans of America, through education, advocacy, and service, is dedicated to creating an environment that fosters a smooth transition into institutions of higher education for student veterans while maintaining an open and progressive dialogue among student veterans nationwide and their counterparts in their respective educational institutions. The Student Veterans of America encourages American citizens to remain informed regarding the well being, experiences, and daily lives of our country's student veterans while providing quality social settings for all Veterans of the US Armed forces attending institutions of higher education throughout the nation.
For media inquiries regarding the Student Veterans of America, please contact Luke Stalcup, Public Affairs Officer, at
ls2367@columbia.edu.
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