The Military and Veteran Success Center (MVSC) is sponsoring a series of events replacing the traditional Veterans Day Ceremony. Assistant Director of the MVSC Elda Arriaga said she hopes the activities will take place annually.
The MVSC assists veterans, guardsmen, reservists and military family members in pursuing their educational goals. It also serves as a connection between receiving military educational benefits and the Department of Veteran Affairs, according to its website.
Today
Veterans are encouraged to visit University Center 113 on the Edinburg campus and Cavalry Hall 104 in Brownsville from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a thank you gift from MVSC.
“We are doing kind of like a candy bar and there are going to be items that they would have gotten when they were in the service or deployment in their care packages,” Arriaga said. “So, one of the items was, for example, an energy drink, cookies, beef jerky, gum, things that they would have gotten that normally they wouldn’t have while in service.”
Tuesday
The Student Veterans of America will host a meeting from noon to 1 p.m. in University Center 307 on the Edinburg campus. She said the event serves as a recruitment tool for student veterans.
“All the events are open to faculty and staff as well, so we’re hoping that faculty and staff attend the events,” Arriaga said. “It’s more of an engagement process and possibly future mentorship with faculty and staff that are veterans.”
Following the meeting, the Hidalgo County Veterans Services Office will speak to students and answer questions on what services they provide, such as obtaining entitled benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the state of Texas, according to its website.
At the same time Friday, the Cameron County Veterans Service Office will discuss services for veterans and military families in the Cavalry Hall study hall in Brownsville.
Wednesday
The Veterans Writing Program will host art therapy, where veterans can draw their military experience from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in University Center 307 on the Edinburg campus and at the same time Thursday in the Cavalry Hall study hall in Brownsville.
“It’s basically another way of expression, so we’re having the Counseling Center assist us with that and the [School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling],” Arriaga said.
Friday
The Texas Veterans Commission will speak to those with prior service about education, employment and VA claim benefits.
“[The Texas Veteran Commission will be] answering questions about educational benefits, such as state exemption called Hazelwood and the services they provide within their education department,” she said. “Claims would do the same thing, what kind of assistance they help with VA claims, and then employment specialists will be talking about what the common jobs are, what current jobs are available, current workshops that they host and other employment opportunity questions, résumé writing, things like that.”
Arriaga said the events will be a learning experience about what other opportunities there are on campus for student, faculty and staff veterans.
