Yesterday afternoon, the campus community joined our active military and veteran students for a moment to acknowledge the service given by so many men and women of the armed forces. At the event, alumnus Theodore "Ted" Thompson Jr. '66, a member of the Esoteric Society was honored, 1st Lt. Thompson was killed in action in 1968 during his service in Vietnam.

This afternoon our Veteran Center hosted its first Veteran Student Meet and Greet event of the school year on the quad by Thompson Hall. This gave  our veteran students the opportunity  to gather for coffee, a snack & camaraderie. In addition, these students had the chance to discuss the unique concerns of veteran students with President Hodge and a host of other university staff.

The campus welcomed representatives from colleges and universities across Massachusetts, and some from New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, today for the the Veterans Certifying Official Conference sponsored by the state Department of Higher Education. Certifying officials on campuses help student veterans get the GI Bill benefits to which they are entitled. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Patricia Marshall greeted the conference attendees who took part in sessions on topics related to supporting student veterans on campus and helping them complete their academic goals. You can read about Fitchburg State's services at fitchburgstate.edu/veterans.