PULLMAN, Wash. – A Veterans Connection Event to unite the Washington State University community in recognition of and respect for student veterans will be 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, March 2 and 3, in a tent on the Terrell mall.
It will provide information on services and resources for vets, as well as hot drinks and a sitting area for students to hang out and talk with each other. The goal is to bridge the gap and bring together the civilian student and student veteran population.
Six designs of “I Served” buttons will be handed out: one for each of the major military service branches – Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy – and one for students who have family members or close friends who have served or are serving in the military. The idea is for students to display these on backpacks or bags and, when they see other students with them, they will know they have a connection based around the military.
The event is part of a national public relations student competition entry by WSU communications students Steffen Stroup, Alberto Vázquez, Madison Miller and Micah Peyron. Their client is Student Veterans of America, a national organization designed to help veterans succeed in higher education.
Each year students from universities around the country compete to research, plan, implement and evaluate a comprehensive public relations campaign. The WSU team has worked closely with the local Student Veterans of America group and the WSU Office of Veterans Affairs.