In honor of Veterans Day, The Bob Parsons Veterans Center sponsored a campus-wide donation effort to obtain supplies to donate to the BWI USO. The supplies were used to create care packages for deployed troops. The BWI USO serves as a "home away from home" to military personnel traveling through BWI Marshall Airport to and from duty stations in Europe, Southwest Asia, and the United States. The Center's efforts resulted in more than 40 pounds of supplies that were donated.
Veterans Day Flag Recognition Ceremony
The Bob Parsons Veterans Center continued its tradition of bringing the UBalt community together to honor the contributions of all current military and veterans. The Flag Recognition Ceremony allows the UBalt community to pause in its daily routine, gather together and recognize the veteran community at UBalt, the City of Baltimore and the entire United States. Once again, we were fortunate enough to have our veteran UBalt police officers conduct the flag raising.
Veterans Day Lunch
This year, The Bob Parsons Veterans Center sponsored a Veterans Day lunch, specifically for UBalt veteran-affiliated students, alumni, and staff. The event was held on the 12th floor of the Angelos Law School building and was catered by the veteran-friendly restaurant, Mission BBQ. As a first-time event, it was very well-received and well-attended. We intend to expand the lunch next year and plan to make it an annual event.
Career and Internship Center (CIC)
The Center partnered with the CIC on an etiquette dinner in which students were given the opportunity to learn proper business dinner manners and given tips on how to use lunches and dinners as networking events. The Center and the CIC also work to support our veteran students throughout their UBalt experience on resume writing as well as mock interviews that help to prepare them for their future careers.
Veteran Information Sessions
In an effort to connect veteran students with local resources, The Center has partnered with established organizations to provide information directly to our students.
This year, a representative from The Stephen A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Easterseals will provide information on health services that the clinic provides as well as several other programs including the Veterans Staffing Network, the Veterans Reintegration Program and the Military Family Respite Program. Moving forward, we plan to host several of these events each semester.
Warrior Canine Connection (WCC)
The Bob Parsons Veterans Center continues to expand its relationship with the Warrior Canine Connection. The Center is partnering with Rocky Gall, a full-time employee of the WCC. Rocky visited UBalt several times over the past year and plans to work with UBalt veterans, students, staff, and faculty in the months to come.
The goal is to use the UBalt campus as training ground for the dogs, and to possibly recruit volunteers for the Warrior Canine Connection. UBalt veteran students have truly enjoyed the companionship of having the dogs at The Bob Parsons Veterans Center.
Marketing the Success of UBalt Vets
The Center is partnering with the UBalt Marketing Department in a digital campaign to highlight stories of our veterans. These stories are posted on YouTube and will be used in various recruiting campaigns. In addition, the Center has partnered with UBalt's own Student Success and Support Services team in their Be You at UBalt project, a forum through which UBalt students can tell their own specific story. This partnership will allow our veteran students to have their stories told and shared with current and potential students.
