Students veterans and employees gather to mark the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The ceremony was led by the Student Veterans Organization and the Veterans Resources Center.
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Minnesota State will host a conference for veteran service providers with a goal of further improving services to those Minnesotans who have served our country.
The Statewide Veterans Services Conference on Oct. 7 at St. Cloud State University will focus on improving communication and collaboration among individuals and organizations that serve veterans.
“St. Cloud State collaborated with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs in 2006 to create the first veterans resource center within the Minnesota State system,” said Zachary Mangas, director of St. Cloud State’s Veterans Resource Center. “Since then, we have seen an increase in student veteran enrollment and an increase in the use of services and support for these amazing students. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to speak about the challenges and the success we have had in working with our students, and to learn from others from around the state.”
The agenda features speakers from a wide variety of agencies and service providers including: the National Guard; the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs; the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs; and the U.S. Department of Labor.
Keynote speakers include:
- Brigadier General Sandy Best, the chief of staff of the Minnesota Air National Guard and the first female general in the history of the Minnesota National Guard
- John Kriesel, a former Minnesota legislator, author and decorated veteran who has been awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge
- Federal and state legislators discussing the landscape of federal and state veteran initiatives
The Minnesota State system serves more than 10,500 veterans every year with veteran-friendly policies and support services that make higher education accessible and affordable.
“We are excited to have various groups and organizations who do important work with our military, their families and our veterans on campus this October,” said Mangas. “Saint Cloud is a regional hub for many of the services and support for our veterans. It will be a great opportunity to have these groups together to share best practices and grow as professionals.”
The conference will be held in the Atwood Memorial Ballroom.
“The colleges and universities of Minnesota State take great pride in serving more veterans than all other higher education alternatives in the state combined,” said Steven Rosenstone, chancellor of Minnesota State. “We are pleased to be hosting this tremendously important conference and we look forward to sharing best practices with colleagues across the state who offer other critical services to veterans.”
