Former Penn State DuBois campus executive officer Joseph Strasser died June 21 in Voorhees, New Jersey. He was 78 years old. He came to Penn State following a long career in the U.S. Navy.
When it was first enacted on June 22, 1944, near the end of the Second World War, the GI Bill changed the lives of veterans by giving them many benefits, including a tuition-free education. As the 75th anniversary of the GI bill approaches, this piece of legislation continues to provide opportunity to veterans, including those enrolling at Penn State.
The Penn State Law Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic built upon its reputation and previous experience to engage in more outreach activities and to offer direct counsel to more clients than in previous academic years. The work of the 2018-19 academic year saw the clinic assist 20 veterans from 13 different counties in Pennsylvania, Arizona and Nebraska, offering students valuable experience through outreach, advocacy, and client interaction.
Penn State’s Wagner Building, home to ROTC programs at University Park, bears the name of Harry Edward Wagner — a 1941 Penn State graduate who served as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division and fought to liberate France from Nazi occupation during the D-Day operations that shaped history. On June 6, the United States celebrates the 75th-year anniversary of the D-Day landings, honoring those who risked and gave their lives during the invasion.
Penn State Berks will host a mental health summit for veterans titled “Building the Bridge” from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, May 10, in the Perkins Student Center. The summit is free and open to all veterans and will be presented by the Lebanon Veterans Affairs Medical Center as part of its 2019 Behavioral Health and Sciences Series.
Tiffany Abramson and Taylor Stevens will share their experiences as online learners during the Penn State World Campus Graduation Celebration on Friday, May 3, at The Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center.
After serving his country and traveling the world as a Navy combat medic, James Holmes returned to the U.S. with an honorable discharge and a severe case of undiagnosed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
The Bataan March is a standard-length marathon through incredibly challenging high-terrain desert. Runners and “ruckers” must climb and descend Mineral Hill — where they will encounter snow — and then wind their way through miles of loose sand while enduring a rising heat as the day grows long. This year, Army ROTC Cadet Sean Schoch took first place in his class.
With a $2 million estate gift, Liberal Arts alumnus Geoffrey Morton (1982) is creating a scholarship for students of military families in the College of the Liberal Arts as well as campus beautification endowments for Penn State's Mont Alto and University Park campuses.
Nicholas Lacey, a first-year student studying geography at Penn State, has received the Ashok K. Moza Foundation Scholarship.
Penn State will celebrate America’s “Greatest Generation” from Nov. 8 to 16 during the University’s annual Military Appreciation Week dedicated to honoring service members, veterans and military families. The University's annual military appreciation celebrations are the largest of their kind in the Big Ten and include a Veteran’s Day ceremony, speaker series and football game — when the Nittany Lions will face off against the Indiana Hoosiers on Nov. 16.
The 2019 United States Veterans Scholarship Ride will take place April 27, beginning at 11:15 a.m. at the State College American Legion on Pine Hall Road. The Pennsylvania Chapter of the U.S. Veterans Motorcycle Club is organizing the ride in support of the Penn State World Campus Veterans Education and Advancement Fund (VEAF). Organizers are asking for a donation of $15 per person to the VEAF. A barbecue and entertainment will be provided at the State College American Legion at the conclusion of the ride.
A student veteran panel discussion will be held from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. April 3 in 103 Bank of America Career Services Center as part of Disability Awareness Month at Penn State. The panel will be held from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. in 103 Bank of America Career Services Center at University Park. Co-sponsored by Student Disability Resources and the Penn State Veterans Organization, the event will invite Penn State veteran students to share their experiences and foster conversations around accessibility, equality and inclusion.
Returning to civilian life can be challenging for veterans. While there are many programs and services aimed at helping them readjust, some veterans do not take advantage of these supportive resources. A Penn State-led research team examined factors that are associated with program non-use among veterans who recently left active duty service.
Penn State faculty, staff and students are invited to volunteer on the University's 2019 Military Appreciation Committee's event subcommittee. Volunteers will help plan and organize Penn State’s year-round military appreciation efforts, including events and programming for the eighth annual Military Appreciation Week in the fall. Since 2014, the committee has led an institution-wide effort to honor and recognize the service and sacrifice of currently serving and veteran military members and their families.
