Student vets to celebrate new Carson City campus home at Western Nevada College
In August, Western Nevada College received recognition for its work with veterans, applauded at a national conference attended by President Barack Obama. Just two months later, WNC has continued its multi-faceted support of veterans as they make the transition from serving their country to a life focused on academics and career preparation.
The student veterans group of WNC will celebrate the opening of the Western Nevada College Student Veterans Resource Center on Thursday, Oct. 31, 1-3 p.m., at the Carson City campus.
A four-room center located in the Cedar Building is the only one of its kind in Northern Nevada. It offers counseling services, student staff, access to VA benefit/medical information, and a study/tutor area with Internet access. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Friday.
Now, the college offers a place that student vets can go to. “Sometimes they want to vent or they are looking for information or benefits, and it’s the one place they can go to get all of those different things,” said Kevin Burns, a WNC English professor who serves as an adviser to the Student Veterans Club.
“It’s a place where vets can hang out and get away from the stress of academics for a bit, or if they want to chill,” said Timothy Galluzi, who heads the Student Veterans Club.
Burns, who served 15 years of active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, including Operation Desert Storm, said recently retired WNC president Carol Lucey was completely supportive of the effort. “When we started this, she said, ‘Let me know what you need,’ and she provided it,” he said.
In the past year, WNC has hosted several BBQs on campus in Carson City and Fallon to bring vets together and share the educational opportunities and resources available to them. In addition, more than 60 of the estimated 170 veterans attending WNC have already joined the Student Veterans Club.
A celebration of the new Veterans Center will be in Carson Nugget Community Hall, offering an overview of veteran services and programs, as well as tours of the new space. Experts will also be on hand to speak to veterans about topics pertaining to them.
Burns said numerous state and national dignitaries have been invited to the celebration. “We want them to see what we’re doing.”
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