USA to Hold Sept. 11 Remembrance and Open House for Student Veterans Resource Room

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Posted on September 9, 2015

Joy Washington

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The University of South Alabama will pay tribute to 9/11 victims at the National Day of Service and Remembrance event on Friday, Sept. 11 at 9 a.m. at the Veterans Park near the USA Student Center. This event is free and open to the public.

Kyle Parrish, president of the University’s Student Veterans Association, served two tours of duty in Iraq as a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps.  He will serve as guest speaker for the 2015 remembrance service.

“The program will include a welcome, invocation, presentation of colors and silent recognition for Sept. 11 victims and their families,” said Heather Sprinkle, student affairs coordinator.

Following the Sept. 11 remembrance event, the Veterans Affairs office will hold an open house at 10 a.m. at the new Student Veterans Resource Room in the Academic Services Center. This event is also open to the public.

The Student Veterans Resource Room was created to be a place for student veterans to gather and study. The University Veterans Affairs Committee helped guide the efforts for a needs assessment survey, which ultimately made the student veterans’ request for a relaxing space a reality.

“The student veterans wanted to have one central place to relax, study and hold Student Veterans Association meetings and other events,” said Dr. Jenny Manders, a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee at USA and associate dean for the School of Continuing Education and Special Programs.

Manders and other committee members were key to helping the student veterans secure this new space.  She received a grant to conduct the needs assessment survey several years ago. Out of the needs assessment, the student veterans requested the following:

• A space for student veterans to gather on campus,
• Increased awareness and recognition for student veterans on campus, and
• Training for faculty, staff and administrators on veterans-related issues and challenges.

The furnishings, appliances and flat screen television located in the new space were purchased with a $10,000 grant from Home Depot. The grant was secured with the help of Aimee Myers, a development officer and the Student Veterans Association.  Dr. Joe Currier, faculty advisor, has been very supportive.

“This is a much-needed space at South Alabama,” said Office of Veterans Affairs Coordinator Tom Curtis. “There’s an estimated 920 veterans on campus. We want our men and women of the armed forces to know they can come home to USA and have a space just for them.”

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