University News
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
When Stephanie Villegas Ӱԭ24 was serving in the , she was a second-class damage-control person, a role she describes as Ӱԭlike a firefighter.Ӱԭ 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 Ӱԭ her first veteran-related event on campus. She says the first university she attended following her service didnӰԭt have such a place for veterans, and sheӰԭs looking forward to spending time in this space.
ӰԭI felt lost there, and IӰԭm excited about having this space on campus,Ӱԭ she said. ӰԭI think this lounge will bring everyone together. We can network, and we will have resources.Ӱԭ
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 Ӱԭ20, Ӱԭ23 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.
ӰԭThe transition from military service back into the civilian world is difficult,Ӱԭ said Noonan, a candidate in the UniversityӰԭs graduate program in national security. ӰԭOne of the biggest hurdles our nationӰԭs veterans encounter is this transition back into Ӱԭcivilian life.Ӱԭ 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.Ӱԭ
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 ӰԭService to Scholar.Ӱԭ It has become a go-to motto, and it is now displayed in the Veteran Success Center.
Anthony Camera Ӱԭ23, VA work study coordinator, says this space is important. As a veteran Ӱԭ he served in the U.S. Marines in the infantry and was deployed three times Ӱԭ he looks forward to the opportunities it will create for veteran and military-affiliated students to connect.
ӰԭIt means a lot to me,Ӱԭ said Camera, a criminal justice major. ӰԭAlthough the University had a veterans lounge before, it was much smaller, and many people didnӰԭt know about it. This space is centrally located on campus, and it offers lots of space and resources.Ӱԭ
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 Ӱԭ including Saoirse Presti Ӱԭ25, who led its design and completion. A veteran, she served in the , completing her enlistment overseas with the . SheӰԭs excited the mural will have a prominent place in the new Veteran Success Center, where it will help welcome Chargers for years to come.
ӰԭThis space is great because this is a much bigger area than we had before,Ӱԭ said Presti, a graphic design major. ӰԭI 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.Ӱԭ
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.
ӰԭIt can be hard coming out of the military,Ӱԭ she said. ӰԭItӰԭs nice to have the space to be around other servicemembers again.Ӱԭ
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