SCRANTON, Pa. — On Wednesday, veteran students, faculty and staff attended a special open house event for the newly remodeled Veterans Lounge, located in the lower level of the campus library.
The lounge is intended to give veteran students a place they can call their own — where they can go to relax, study, unwind, enjoy a snack or beverage, and mingle with others who have similar experiences and backgrounds.
The lounge offers vets on campus a sofa, chairs, microwave, Keurig coffee maker, a fully-stocked refrigerator and a computer workstation, as well as lamps for softer lighting, with the ability to be turned off or down for a quick nap, if needed.
In addition to campus attendees, Bill Ramsey, GS, enrollment officer for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Army ROTC, Royal Warrior Battalion, was in attendance by special invitation.
Ramsey was pleased with the lounge space and acknowledged the need for veterans to have a quiet place to go during the week.
Both Josh Wiggins and Shamus McGuigan, veteran students at Penn State Scranton, admitted that they had both taken naps in the lounge.
John Mellow, another veteran student, said he was enjoying the new look of the lounge, as he relaxed in one of the new comfy chairs recently added to the decor. "You'll see me down here more often now," he said.
Kara Bourque, a psychology major in her junior year who served two tours while in the U.S. Army, transferred to Penn State Scranton from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
"I had an interest in psychology and when I was looking up schools for psychology, Penn State was accredited, including graduate school," said Bourque.
Penn State Scranton Chancellor Marwan Wafa was pleased with the attendance for the event and spent time chatting with the veterans — letting them know that Penn State Scranton honors them and their service.