Concord Accepts Five Star Challenge

L.G. Corder, Director of Veterans Education and Training with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Committee, speaks at the Veterans Appreciation Program.
Photo courtesy of concord.edu

Concord University honors veterans that have served and those still serving today.  The university has won many awards in the past for being a veteran friendly university.  Lisa Spencer, a Concord University financial aid counselor and the Veteran’s Certifying Official at the Veterans Appreciation and Presentation of the Veteran Advocate of the Year Award 2015 event said “Concord University is the #1 Military Veteran Friendly School, and have been #3 as well.  We have also been a leader in the state initiative of being veteran friendly.”  On Novemer 9 Concord University took the challenge to improve their support even more for student veterans.  Dr. Boggess accepted the “5 Star Challenge” on behalf of the university.

The “5 Star Challenge” is an initiative of the Office of Veterans Education and Training Programs within the Division of Student Affairs at the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the West Virginia Community and Technical College System.  

During the event L.G. Corder the Administrator of the Office of Veterans Education and Training Programs of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission described what the “5 Star Challenged” included.  By accepting the challenge, Concord University pledges to 1) provide a signed commitment from President Kendra Boggess to adopt the best practices and standards, 2) emphasize a focus on increasing access and affordability to higher education for student veterans, 3) provide increased academic support including priority registration for classes, 4) enhance social networks for veterans on campus, and 5) encourage greater collaboration with community organizations working to meet the needs of military service members.  Corder says that “fulfilling the challenge means there’s always a helping hand to any student veteran who needs it.”

There were two special awards that were given at the event.  David Moore, U.S. Navy Retired, Command Chief, ABC-2, DET-106 was named the 2015 Student Veteran Advocate.  David graduated from Concord University in 2014 with a Master of Social Work after coming out of retirement.  He currently works with Veterans Administration as a Readjustment Counselor at the Beckley Vet Center tending to the needs of veterans who have been diagnosed with P.T.S.D.   

Richard Woods, U.S. Army Retired, Sergeant First Class, was named the 2015 Veterans Advocate.  After retiring after 21 years on Active Duty, Woods decided to continue his education and enrolled at Concord University and is currently working towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education.  In being the Concord University Veterans Advocate, Woods provides help to his fellow classmates to navigate through the transition from military to civilian life.

After Moore and Woods received their awards, Dr. Paul L. Hill, the Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission said some last remarks about the recipients and the “5 Star Challenge”: “as all West Virginias who honor you and all those serving, we want to bring about an even stronger level of recognition.”  Hill noted that Moore and Woods, and others like them, were “role models in our community.”

For more information on the “5 Star Challenge” go to cfwvconnect.com/veterans-education.  To learn more about Concord University’s Veterans Office visit concord.edu/veterans