Veterans Services Center- The BIG 100

As America's military men and women leave service and begin transitioning to civilian life, many will enter academia to further their education and prepare for future employment and careers. The mission of the Marna M. Kuehne Foundation Veteran's Services Center at UW, simply put, is to assist our military-connected students and their families through this transition. Please consider supporting the center in our efforts to improve success and opportunities for our military, veterans, and military families at UW.  

This year, the VSC has gained donor support to provide 2 exciting challenges for our Giving Day campaign – 1) A match opportunity for the first $21,000 in donations; 2) a $100,000 gift if we have at least 100 donors give to our campaign.  Our team will be updating our social media pages throughout Giving Day to motivate and encourage our followers to help up meet the match and donor challenges. 

The Veteran's Services Center (VSC) is funded solely by personal donations and uses that funding to engage, influence, and promote strong academic skills, healthy lifestyles, and personal connection through academic and social programming. Financial support from our donors provides the ability to maintain our 2,300-square-foot student center, employ instructors for five academic courses, hire a suite of student tutors, and conduct 60 or more social programs and activities for military-connected students each year.  

This year, the VSC will use 10% of Giving Day donations to support the UW student veteran club – Students Supporting Veterans (SSV).  The SSV strives to foster a supportive community encouraging student connection, support, and awareness of veteran experience and culture.  SSV members participate in volunteer opportunities on both campus and Laramie communities with organizations like Laramie Connections, Wyoming Conservation Corps, Laramie Soup Kitchen, Laramie American Legion and V.F.W., and the UW Veterans Services Center.  Giving Day funding will also be used to support the ‘Veterans Fly Fishing Program’ sponsored by the VSC.  This group trains veterans in the exciting and creative art of fly rod building and fly tying.  Donor funding keeps the program completely free for all veterans (student and community veterans alike).  Many of our participants have never fly fished before, but through the class they will learn the lifelong art of fly fishing and hopefully catch their first trout on the fly rod they built and the fly they tied!!    

The Veteran's Services Center and Veteran's Program at UW began in 2010 with a small space for students to meet and a simple goal of providing advocacy for students as needed. Since then, the VSC has been recognized as a TOP SCHOOL by Veteran's Education and Transition Magazine, placing in the top 2% of 4 year colleges and universities in America sponsoring a veterans program. VSC donor support funds everything from 7 academic programs, tutoring program, physical and mental health and wellness programs, and 60+ social engagement activities and events per year, and funds the maintenance and operation of the Veterans Services Center – the hub of our program.  

The center is thankful for the continued support from donors that allows us to continue serving those who so perfectly served our country. Your support will ensure our services continue to promote the University of Wyoming as a military-friendly school and a best place for military, veterans, and military families.  

On behalf of the Veteran's Services Center and our military connected students, thank you!