Concord Introduces CU Veterans Association Next Fall

Concord University is no stranger when it comes to veterans. Concord’s website thanks the veterans for the services they provide for the country while stating they are committed to repaying them for their services. The mission is to ensure all veterans receive every possible opportunity for a valuable education. Not only that, but the university offers many options for veteran financial aid. Steven Kennedy, sophomore and veteran of the United States Army, discusses the new CU Veterans Association that will be available in the upcoming fall semester.

    Concord University will be unveiling its newest alumni association next fall which will be comprised with graduated students who have served in the military. The idea was brought to life a few weeks ago when some members of the Veteran’s Committee asked current veteran students about initiatives they could do to make the university a more veteran-friendly campus. The members of this committee are Steven Kennedy, Chuck Elliot, VP for Information Technology & Chief Information Officer; Teresa Frey, Academic Advisor for Adults and Veteran Students; and Andrew Sulgit, Director of Student Union Activity.

    Kennedy approached Frey and decided to act on the idea. His main goal was to help connect current veteran students with veteran students who have graduated before them. Kennedy states, “I believe that an Alumni Association for veterans will be a tremendous asset to our school and to the veterans that attend here. This would allow alumni to be part of something big and contribute back to the school and community.” In the past, Concord was atop a prestigious list being on the top 10 friendly veteran schools in the nation. Kennedy emphasized that he wants Concord to be back on that list; in turn, causing a higher enrollment for veteran students. Kennedy stated that he talked with Frey and Elliot previously while in a committee meeting and he said they are very supportive of the idea while also having many great ideas of their own. Sulgit also expressed his eagerness to get started on the new association. “I’ve tried to be supportive of veteran’s initiatives over the years, including Run for Heroes Poker Run/5k run we did for a few years on campus to raise money for the Veterans Support Fund,” he says. He also states he is very honored that Kennedy approached him with some logistics pertaining to the VAA. “I am honored to assist in any way I can,” he states.

    The university, along with many other schools in the state, have faced financial difficulty with budget cuts. The new Concord University Veterans Association would allow Concord’s veterans to rely more on the organization instead of relying mainly on the state for financial assistance. Kennedy is in hopes that local veterans will become involved by contributing in any way possible, regardless if they were a student at the university or not. He wants to see the community give back to its nation’s veterans and said, “I know that we have many veterans in the Athens area and I would love for them to have an opportunity to join us in this.”