Nov. 18, 2019 — To thank former military members for their service and their contributions to the university, all veterans affiliated with UTSA are invited to the inaugural Veteran Appreciation Reception from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday in the Student Union’s Denman Ballroom (SU 2.01.28) on Main Campus.
The event was also created to bring UTSA’s veterans together to network and learn more about the support the university and external partners provide for UTSA’s military-affiliated community.
“Three of the biggest contributors to a veteran’s sense of belonging on campus are faculty interactions, engagement and mentorship. None of the events we previously held really had those elements, so we wanted to change that,” said Michael Logan ’11, associate director of UTSA’s Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, who has extensively researched effective strategies to serve and support the success of military-connected students. “We don’t want to be just designated as military-friendly. We want to be military-friendly.”
“We don’t want to be just designated as military-friendly. We want to be military-friendly.”
—MICHAEL LOGAN, Associate Director of UTSA’s Office of Veteran and Military Affairs
The Joint ROTC Color Guard will post the colors at 11:15 a.m. and UTSA President Taylor Eighmy will give a speech at 11:30 a.m., followed by a performance of service songs by members of the Spirit of San Antonio marching band. The following organizations will also be on hand to give attendees information about their resources for veterans:
In addition to the resource organizations, a presentation of posters will show guests how the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs is aiding student-vets holistically through research, community partnerships and engagement as well as the hands-on continuum of support that helps service members transition from the military to UTSA, succeed as student-veterans and thrive as they enter the workforce.
Hoping to build on the great turnout for the grand opening of the Center for Military Affiliated Students on Nov. 14, Logan said that the VMA office has already received more than 200 RSVPs for the appreciation reception from veterans in the campus community. It’s a sign of positive progress.
⇒ Learn more about how UTSA supports military-affiliated students.
“The more resources we’re getting and the more visible we’re becoming with the vet population, the more our workload is increasing. But that’s a good problem to have,” Logan said. “They’re engaging with us and each other so much more than they were even a year ago.”
Every veteran who attends Tuesday’s reception is encouraged to mix, mingle and have some fun. Lunch and refreshments will be provided, and the VMA office has arranged for a number of giveaways.
