In a year that has been fraught with unprecedented challenges, it’s more important than ever to acknowledge the service of those who preserve the liberties and freedom we hold dear. On behalf of everyone at Penn State, thank you to the individuals and families who have made sacrifices in service of the United States of America. You bring honor to our great nation.
Penn State has a proud tradition of serving the men and women of our military and giving back through education, benefits, resources and more. In addition to year-round efforts, our annual Military Appreciation Week celebration is an opportunity for the Penn State community to join together to honor and publicly commend those who have bravely served our country. This year’s ninth Military Appreciation theme celebrates veterans — including many Penn State students, staff and faculty — who have served.
Like so many other things this year, our Military Appreciation Week will feature virtual events to support health and safety guidelines due to the pandemic. I will miss seeing everyone on campus, but our Military Appreciation Committee, chaired by Colonel Eugene McFeely, Penn State’s senior director for Veterans Affairs and Services, along with many volunteers, worked incredibly hard to make it a memorable, safe and special week.
You are invited to tune in to the adapted Veterans Day Ceremony featuring video messages from the Penn State community, which will be streamed online beginning at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 at watch.psu.edu/MAW. The day also will feature a virtual yoga class, a conversation with student veterans and a discussion on mental health.
Our vision is that Penn State’s many efforts will be widely emulated as an example of what higher education can do to address the needs of our nation’s armed forces, veterans and their families. Today, more than 5,600 Penn State students have direct military ties as either service members, veterans or military dependents, across all of Penn State’s campuses, including World Campus. We are dedicated to helping them achieve their educational goals with a variety of services and support resources. Consider just a few Penn State military focused initiatives.
- Last fall, Penn State launched a new Student Veteran Center to serve as a central hub for about 1,000 military-connected students, including student veterans, service members and dependents at University Park, to access a variety of important services. This season we also have launched a new website, veterans.psu.edu, to help current and prospective Penn State student veterans access the variety of support and resources available to them at the University.
- Penn State has consistently been recognized as a military-friendly school for the many academic programs and support resources available to active duty, veteran and ROTC students.
- U.S. News & World Report ranked Penn State World Campus among its best online programs for veterans for the University’s faculty credentials and training, student services, student engagement, peer reputation and ability to make college more affordable for military students.
- For student veterans at every Penn State campus and online through the World Campus, the University offers peer counseling services and assists with VA benefits, the college application process, financial aid and living arrangements through our Office of Veterans Programs.
- The Penn State Law Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic provides students hands-on experience representing veterans and current service members in some of the unique legal issues they encounter.
- The Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness is a valuable, interactive and comprehensive resource for professionals working with military families. Its staff engage in applied research and evaluation, implementation science, education and outreach to advance the well-being and health of military families.
I ask that everyone take a moment to reflect on and remember our own family and friends who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Please express your appreciation for their commitment to serving and protecting our nation.
We are proud of your courage and sacrifice, and we are honored that you are part of the Penn State community. Happy Veterans Day! I hope you enjoy the rest of this week’s activities and I look forward to seeing all of you on campus in the future.
