University News

University Dedicates New Space for Veteran and Military-Affiliated Students

The University community recently celebrated the grand opening of the Veteran Success Center, a newly renovated space in Sheffield Hall that includes a Vet Lounge and a welcoming place for veteran and military students to come together.

September 16, 2022

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications

Students make their own mark on the mural.

When Stephanie Villegas 杏吧原版24 was serving in the , she was a second-class damage-control person, a role she describes as 杏吧原版渓ike a firefighter.杏吧原版 After her experience working on fire suppression systems, she is now studying fire protection engineering at the University of New Haven.

Villegas recently attended the grand opening of the newly renovated Veteran Success Center at the University 杏吧原版 her first veteran-related event on campus. She says the first university she attended following her service didn杏吧原版檛 have such a place for veterans, and she杏吧原版檚 looking forward to spending time in this space.

杏吧原版淚 felt lost there, and I杏吧原版檓 excited about having this space on campus,杏吧原版 she said. 杏吧原版淚 think this lounge will bring everyone together. We can network, and we will have resources.杏吧原版

Stephanie Villegas 杏吧原版24 at the Veteran Success Center.

The University community recently gathered to celebrate the opening of the new Veteran Success Center in Sheffield Hall, hearing from several alumni who are veterans, as well as Ryan Noonan 杏吧原版20, 杏吧原版23 M.S. Manager of military and veteran's affairs for the University, Noonan welcomed everyone to the ceremony. A veteran, he served two combat deployments to the Anbar province in Iraq.

杏吧原版淭he transition from military service back into the civilian world is difficult,杏吧原版 said Noonan, a candidate in the University杏吧原版檚 graduate program in national security. 杏吧原版淥ne of the biggest hurdles our nation杏吧原版檚 veterans encounter is this transition back into 杏吧原版榗ivilian life.杏吧原版 The very opening of this Center speaks to our transition and the progress that we have made. The University has made a commitment to our military and veteran community, and we are dedicated to helping that community grow.杏吧原版

Ryan Noonan 杏吧原版20, 杏吧原版23 M.S. by the Veteran Success Center staff offices.
杏吧原版楲ots of space and resources杏吧原版

As part of the celebration, the VA work study student mural project was revealed. Students dedicated more than 220 hours to the project, which represents the transition military and veteran community members experience, creating a mural with the words 杏吧原版淪ervice to Scholar.杏吧原版 It has become a go-to motto, and it is now displayed in the Veteran Success Center.

Anthony Camera 杏吧原版23, VA work study coordinator, says this space is important. As a veteran 杏吧原版 he served in the U.S. Marines in the infantry and was deployed three times 杏吧原版 he looks forward to the opportunities it will create for veteran and military-affiliated students to connect.

杏吧原版淚t means a lot to me,杏吧原版 said Camera, a criminal justice major. 杏吧原版淎lthough the University had a veterans lounge before, it was much smaller, and many people didn杏吧原版檛 know about it. This space is centrally located on campus, and it offers lots of space and resources.杏吧原版

The mural was created by Chargers for current and future Chargers.
杏吧原版業t can be hard coming out of the military杏吧原版

Community members were invited to make their own mark on the mural as part of the celebration. Chargers signed it and left messages for current and future military and veteran community members.

The mural was designed and created by student veterans, veteran family members, and art majors at the University 杏吧原版 including Saoirse Presti 杏吧原版25, who led its design and completion. A veteran, she served in the , completing her enlistment overseas with the . She杏吧原版檚 excited the mural will have a prominent place in the new Veteran Success Center, where it will help welcome Chargers for years to come.

杏吧原版淭his space is great because this is a much bigger area than we had before,杏吧原版 said Presti, a graphic design major. 杏吧原版淚 hope it will help us meet and connect with each other. I hope the more than 200 student veterans can find this to be a space where they can make new friends like I have.杏吧原版

In addition to the Vet Lounge, the Veteran Success Center includes a breakout room and staff offices. Villegas, the U.S. Navy veteran, is glad the University community came together to see it, and she looks forward to using the space along with her fellow Chargers.

杏吧原版淚t can be hard coming out of the military,杏吧原版 she said. 杏吧原版淚t杏吧原版檚 nice to have the space to be around other servicemembers again.杏吧原版

Anthony Camera 杏吧原版23 at the grand opening ceremony.