uicnews.uic.edu August 31 2016 Volume 36 / Number 2 uicnews.uic.edu For the community of the University of Illinois at Chicago WeeksWOW of Welcome builds community More on p. 11 Photo: Amod Mahadika Spark in the Exhibition East Meets 2 - student voice Park features marks center’s West highlights 4 - campus news eclectic mix anniversary collaborations 8 - calendar 12 - sports 3 4 6-7 Facebook / uicnews Twitter / uicnews YouTube / uicmedia Flickr / uicnews Instagram / thisisuic & uicamiridis 2 UIC News | Wednesday, August 31, 2016 Student Veteran of the Month By Billy Triphahn —
[email protected] Maria Mckiever’s motivation ing. She was assigned the 4th industrial engineering major. for joining the Army was largely ID 124th Signal Battalion in She plans to graduate in spring influenced by family tradition. Fort Hood, Texas, and served for 2018. Her mother, cousin, uncle, four years until she was honor- “State schools are amazing great-uncle and grandfather all ably discharged in 2006. for vets in that there is no anxi- served in the military. She was deployed twice, ety about covering tuition gaps And carrying on this tradition once to Tikrit, Iraq, from March after your GI Bill,” she said. “My has helped her build a sense of 2003 to April 2004 in support experience has been that state community at UIC. of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and schools have a larger percent- “My service has allowed me from December 2004 to June age of non-traditional students.” to connect with other veterans 2006 to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. An active member of the Stu- on campus,” she said.