Patrick to Represent USI in Veteran Initiative in Washington D.C. Chaze Patrick has been selected and workforce preparedness. It is devotion to mission success. I to be one of 25 students nationwide a 10-week professional immersion can not think of a better student to represent USI in Washington program that serves as a platform and person to represent our D.C. this summer for the Veterans for increasing veterans’ access to university on a national stage” Employment Trajectory (VET) quality jobs and preparing them said Joel Matherly, Assistant Initiative sponsored by Prudential to transition from university life to Director of the USI VMFRC. Insurance. the civilian working world. Patrick will attend this program The VET Initiative in an internship “Anyone who has come in from May 24 - August 5. opportunity designed to cultivate contact with Chaze knows his veterans’ career advancement professionalism, work ethic and Veterans Get Free Dental Cleanings at USI Clinic - By Mark Wilson, Evansville Courier & Press Elissa Corbitt came to the Resource Center at USI, said Faculty such as Corbitt and fellow University of Southern Indiana most veterans don’t meet the instructor Kathy Seib check on to study dental hygiene after criteria for free dental care from and approve the student’s work leaving the Navy, where she the U.S. Department of Veterans before the appointment ends. served as a corpsman and Affairs, and if they did, they would “We are usually pretty full. We surgical technician. have to travel to the VA clinic in usually see about 12 per clinic Marion, Illinois, to receive it. (day),” Seib said. “I was kind of Now, as an instructor at USI’s surprised how many show up.” Dental Hygiene Clinic, Corbitt is helping other Many of the veterans veterans. Junior and return every year, senior students at the or even every six university’s dental months, she said, hygiene program are which provides a combining education service to them and community service and practice for the by providing free teeth students. cleaning to veterans this week. Until Cecil Gurganus began coming to the The clinic doubled the clinics several years number of available ago, he said his appointment times, only regular dental including evening hours, care was “brushing through Thursday. my teeth.” “This is our way of filling a need An Air Force veteran who was Although veterans receive the in the community while giving stationed in Japan during the services free of charge anytime, our students that experiential Korean War, Gurganus said he the dental hygiene clinic learning,” he said. “We have has no dental insurance. “This periodically makes a concerted a great dental (hygiene) is a tremendous program for effort to reach out to them. The department and the students are veterans. clinic provides teeth cleaning, eager to learn. They do a great job,” he said. fluoride and X-rays. Jerry Schapker served as a flight Senior student Paige Hall said VETERAN TALON “It’s a way we can show them engineer in the U.S. Air Force she enjoys working with the we appreciate their service,” during the Vietnam War. He veterans. “I think it’s great. They Corbitt said. “You can get dental attended the clinic Wednesday served our country and this is just insurance separately through the after hearing about it from a a way to give back,” she said. VA but it does cost. If they come friend. “It’s great. They do a here, it’s free.” very thorough job,” he said, after “I like learning what each receiving a cleaning from Sami individual needs and how to Joel Matherly, manager of Harpenau, a senior student. communicate with them,” Hall the Veteran, Military & Family said. Veteran, Military & Family Resource Center - Student Veteran Association - American Legion Post 324 8600 University Boulevard, Education Center 0114, Evansville, Indiana 47712 Local Pets for Vets Chapter Seeking Veterans for Companionship Healing Vets and Saying Thank You Saving Pets Pets for Vets is a concrete way to thank At Pets for Vets, we U.S. Military Veterans for their service. believe our country • Featured on NPR, CBS2 and owes military veterans CNN, PBS and the Pentagon Channel a debt of gratitude. • Donations are tax deductible to Our troops have been brave but many the fullest extent allowed by law of them have returned with physical and • Serving veterans in our chapter emotional injuries that have made it difficult areas to transition back to civilian life. Some • With each veteran-pet match we estimates state that as many as 20% of provide the necessary equipment for them returning military veterans suffer from to start their new life together Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Veterans in our chapter areas who could Pets for Vets is helping. benefit from having a companion animal Our goal is to help heal the emotional and who are also able to care for an wounds of military veterans by pairing animal are eligible to receive a Pets for Mr. Joel Matherly Assistant Director (812) 461-5302 [email protected] them with a shelter dog that is specially Vets companion animal. Pets for Vets is selected to match his or her personality. a national organization with 32 chapters Professional animal trainers rehabilitate around the nation. SW IN Chapter started the dogs and teach them good manners 3 years ago, and to date have placed to fit into the veteran’s lifestyle. Training 20 dogs and 1 cat. We will place any Mrs. Debra Mabern may also include desensitization to wheel domestic animal that we can adopt from a Veteran and Military Services Supervisor chairs or crutches as well as recognizing local shelter or rescue group. (812) 461-1857 panic or anxiety disorder behaviors. [email protected] From application to receiving your new It’s win-win. best friend takes anywhere from Needy shelter dogs receive a second 2-5 months. You can apply at www. chance at life while giving our returning petsforvets.com troops a second chance at health and happiness. The bonds of friendship formed Pets for Vets thanks our veterans. For between man and animal have the power more information, please contact Marti to ease the suffering of our troops when Vanada, Director, Southwest Indiana Pets they return from overseas. for Vets at 812-853-5400. SVA Receives $1.2 Million Grant for Transitioning Service Members - By Barrett Y. Bogue, Vice President of Communications, SVA National Washington D.C. into higher education or employment by — Student Veterans focusing on three key areas: transition of America (SVA) out of the Armed Forces, life as a student announced today veteran and transition from student to that it received a $1.2 professional. VETERAN HOLDS—Veteran million, multi-year holds are placed on the grant from the PwC At the conclusion of the research, SVA Monday following the 100% Charitable Foundation, Inc. in support will launch an adaptive tool that student drop/add period and run until of SVA’s Student Veteran Educational veterans can use to measure the priority registration. They are and Employment Decision Tree Initiative. effectiveness of any program or initiative reestablished after the PR The three-year research initiative will designed to help service members’ period ends and will come off explore the decision-making process for transition from the military to college or during finals. separating service members, with the employment. The Decision Tree Initiative intent of identifying potential opportunities aims to provide a much needed tool PRIORITY REGISTRATION— and barriers to a successful transition from for transitioning service members and If you are currently using VA college into the workforce. This builds veterans to see through evidence-based Benefits (GI Bill), you qualify for on the success of SVA’s groundbreaking research the best path to take to achieve priority registration regardless research into the academic outcomes of their professional goals upon separation by your academic alignment nearly one million student veterans using mapping the effectiveness and outcomes (Freshman—Senior). Plan your the Post-9/11 GI Bill. of graduation and employment decisions. next semester before this date and schedule an appointment “Imagine you’re about to leave the military, “We are proud to support SVA in its with your advisor. you’re not entirely sure you want to go mission to empower transitioning military to college or into the workforce. You veterans with the resources and tools to be VA CERTIFICATE OF can’t make up your mind and your peers successful in education and employment,” ENROLLMENT FORM DUE are giving you advice that’s all over the said Frank Gaudio, PwC Charitable EACH SEMESTER you plan map. This is where our Decision Tree Foundation Trustee and Veterans Liaison. to use benefits. Find this form Initiative will help. Thanks to the PwC “At the conclusion of this research initiative at http://www.usi.edu/reg/ssl/ Charitable Foundation, we’re going to essential information will be extracted vaformlogin.asp . Complete show separating service members, not that will help guide future generations of yours as soon as you register only how to persist towards a degree, service members to construct a successful for classes. but the path most likely to lead towards roadmap based upon the experience graduating,” said Mr. Jared Lyon, SVA’s of others to achieve their career goals. VFW 1114 Dining Room Open President and CEO. Continual research is critical to identify to Public—Friday, Saturday, leading practices to advance and scale Sunday Brunch Using a sample size of more than 1,000 solutions that will better