Military Appreciation Day at Purdue Fort Wayne ushers in new chapter of support, success

Military Appreciation Day at Purdue University Fort Wayne will be observed Thursday on the Science Mall from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This annual event highlights PFW's gratitude to those who have served.

The day's schedule is full of opportunities for students, employees, and visitors to take part in hands-on experiences led by campus veterans. The activities, which are open to the general public, include trying on equipment, physical training, and learning more about military service. There is no charge to attend.

The Center for Veteran and Military Student Success at PFW, formerly known as Military Student Services, is hosting the event. On a daily basis, it is primarily responsible for helping more than 200 students with military backgrounds and their family members access and utilize their Veterans Administration benefits. With the new name, the center's staff hopes to expand their scope and clarify what they do.

"When we were Military Student Services, we also got targeted a lot as being like a recruitment office," said Nicole Welsh, senior compliance officer. In fact, the center has never been affiliated with recruitment efforts.

In addition to getting a new name over the summer, the center also moved from Kettler Hall to Walb Student Union, Room 120. The more central location on campus provides easier access for students, more space for programs, and a lounge. It also offers better lighting, a study area with computers, and other amenities.

Team members such as Navy veteran Brice Evans believe it all feels more user-friendly, an objective they also hope to achieve through the support they're providing

"It helps when you can speak the language and understand from a similar background," Evans said. "It's a big benefit when we have people come in here and you can make reasonable conversation because of your experiences. You have some talking points you can relate to, and if we can't answer their questions, we can direct them to someone who can."

That's because the center's other staffers also served or come from military families. Jamie Ewell and Christian Long are Army veterans; Isai De La Rose is a Marine Corps veteran; and Trevor Hiles was in the Navy. Welsh and Brody Johnson are the children of veterans.

According to Evans, there's already been more walk-in traffic during the first few weeks of the fall semester than there was during the entire spring semester.

As part of its growing outreach efforts, the center will host meetings of PFW's Student Veterans of America chapter, which is sponsored by the Student Government Association. It is also interested in connecting with off-campus military-affiliated organizations for future events. Ewell, a PFW junior majoring in electrical engineering, is the chapter's president and can be emailed at [email protected]for more information.

In July, PFW was recognized by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and the state's Department of Veterans Affairs as a Collegiate Purple Star of Indiana recipient for the 2024-25 academic year. This initiative recognizes eligible postsecondary institutions that have successfully demonstrated a supportive environment for their U.S. military-affiliated student populations, from application to graduation.

Thursday's event may also feature a flyover from the 122nd Fighter Wing of the Indiana National Guard, weather permitting and pending additional guidance from the wing. It would take place at 11:11 a.m.

The significance of that timing is to remember the armistice that went into effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, which signaled the end of what was at that time considered to be the "war to end all wars."

Visit pfw.edu/military-services or call 260-481-0517 to learn more about the center.