Incoming and existing military-connected Kent State students, faculty and staff members were welcomed to campus with open arms at the Veterans and Service Members Open House hosted Sept. 8 by the Center for Adult and Veteran Services (CAVS).
The event, held in the Schwebel Room at the Student Center, aimed to bring members of the military community, including family members, together with food, refreshments and conversation.
Joshua Rider, executive director of CAVS, wants to ensure those who served feel represented and heard in ways that meet their needs.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to let them know that we value them,鈥 Rider said. 鈥淭here are receptions that go on for a lot of different identity groups on campus, and we want to make sure that this identity group knows they have a home here and that people acknowledge their service or service of their family.鈥
Jaymes Taylor, a junior anthropology major at Kent State and 12-year Army veteran, attended the open house to make connections with other student veterans, faculty, and staff veterans.
鈥淲e feel like sometimes we get lost after we leave the military,鈥 he said. 鈥淪o forming a brotherhood and sisterhood together and being able to support each other through college is actually really important.鈥
CAVS exists to support more than 850 military-connected students like Taylor through services such as processing military benefits, assisting in career guidance, and offering pre-admission counseling. The office also exists to help non-traditional adult learners and parenting students navigate through Kent State.
Earlier this year, Kent State was awarded its 13th consecutive Military Friendly School designation, and a Collegiate Purple Star designation.
For more information about the Center for Adult and Veteran Services, please visit www.kent.edu/cavs/about-us.
For more information about Kent State鈥檚 Veterans Club, please visit www.kent.edu/csi/kent-state-university-veterans-club.