November 3, 2014 · Exit133

Veteran Appreciation Runs Deep at UW Tacoma

TACOMA, WASH. — To honor the sacrifices and recognize the valor of those who have served in the nation’s armed forces, the University of Washington has declared Nov. 3-11 to be Veterans Appreciation Week. UW Tacoma has a full slate of celebratory activities planned for the week, highlighted by a Veterans Appreciation Day community gathering on Wed., Nov. 5, 2014 at 12:30 p.m., in the campus’s William W. Philip Hall.

Other events or services planned for the week at UW Tacoma include a luncheon sponsored by the Student Veteran Organization; a reception for alumni, students, staff and faculty who are veterans; and a visit by Tacoma Veteran Center specialists.

The entire UW community is invited to the 2014 UW Veterans Day Celebration and Ceremony on the UW Seattle campus on Tues., Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. At that time, the recipient of the 2014 UW Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award will be announced.

UW Tacoma’s connection with—and commitment to—veterans and active members of the military goes beyond the activities of a single week. Ever since it was founded 25 years ago, the campus has been host to veteran and active military students. Partly this is due to proximity—15 miles north of one of the nation’s largest military bases, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM).

But the commitment is much more than just being down the road. Years of effort by UW, elected officials at all levels, business and non-profit leaders, and military partners have resulted in a “military ready” ethos, meaning UW Tacoma understands the particular needs of active-duty, veterans and their families and is ready to help them succeed. The commitment goes beyond any one campus: UW Tacoma staff in the JBLM transition center help service members understand all the public college and university options available to them in Washington. This kind of collaboration is unique to the Puget Sound region, which leads the nation in improving transition for service members leaving the military.

Examples of activities at UW Tacoma with a military or veteran focus include:

Establishment of an Office of Veteran and Military Services, a welcome center where veterans can gather, staffed by a professional veterans service coordinator, a benefits advisor and a VetCorps “navigator,” a veteran helping veterans through transition as a peer.
Creation of a new Student Veteran Organization, a chapter of the national Student Veterans of America. The group encourages camaraderie and support amongst veterans and their families.
New degree programs meant to appeal to veterans’ interests and aptitudes or active military schedules, including an all-online bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in cybersecurity and leadership.
Student-led Projects: Military families traveling to Madigan Army Medical Center at JBLM who want to stay at nearby Fisher House can submit their applications online thanks to a team of UW Tacoma students. As a class project, students in Andrew Fry’s “Managing Technical Teams” course designed and built an online form and database that House staff say is a vast improvement.
MEDEX NW is a physician’s assistant training program run by UW Medicine. A Tacoma training location, located on the UW Tacoma campus, was opened in 2013 as part of a veteran-focused expansion of the program.
Views on the Pacific is an ongoing seminar series looking at the U.S. “rebalance” to the Asia-Pacific region and the impacts on the Puget Sound region.
Veterans Incubator for Better Entrepreneurship, also known as VIBE, helps veterans refine business concepts, develop practical skills, pursue capital and cultivate relationships to maximize their chance of a successful business startup.

Veterans Appreciation Week Events

Nov. 3   Veterans Appreciation Luncheon – 12:30 p.m.
                Commerce Plaza, UW Tacoma campus
                Sponsored by SVO - Student Veteran Organization

Nov. 4   UWT Veteran Alumni, Student, Staff & Faculty Reception – 5:30 p.m.
                GWP Terrace, UW Tacoma campus
                Sponsored by Starbucks
                RSVP: http://engage.washington.edu/site/Calendar?id=121041&view=Detail

Nov. 5 Veterans Appreciation Day Community Gathering – 12:30 p.m.
William W. Philip Hall, UW Tacoma campus

Nov. 6   Information Veterans Gathering – 4:30 p.m.
                The Swiss Restaurant & Pub, 1904 S. Jefferson St., Tacoma
                Sponsored by UWT veteran faculty and staff

Nov. 7   Mobile Veterans Outreach Staff – 12:30 p.m.
                Office of Veteran and Military Services, MAT206, UW Tacoma campus
                Staff from Tacoma Veterans Center will be on hand to provide assistance.

Nov. 10 How to Display an American Flag – all day
Instructional posters on display at various locations, UW Tacoma campus

Nov. 11 UW Veteran’s Day 2014 Celebration and Ceremony – 11 a.m.
Memorial Way, UW Seattle campus
Ceremony includes recognition of Distinguished Alumni Veteran Award recipient, salute to armed forces and uniformed personnel by Husky Marching Band.

For in-depth stories about UW Tacoma and its veteran and military community, read our feature – “Celebrating Veterans at UW Tacoma” [http://www.tacoma.uw.edu/news/veterans]