Purdue student veterans will have a newly-remodeled home office in the Purdue Memorial Union (PMU), thanks in part to a $10,000 grant they earned through an initiative offered by Student Veterans of America and The Home Depot Foundation.
Purdue Student Veterans’ Organization (PSVO) was one of 11 recipients of a VetCenter Initiative (VCI) grant, awarded through a partnership between SVA and The Home Depot Foundation. The organizations earmarked $100,000 to create campus homes for student veterans across the country. The chapter received the award for their creative proposal describing how they would enhance existing plans for the space.
“I’m exceptionally proud of the leadership and hard work displayed by our Student Veterans Organization,” said Jamie Richards, advisor for the Purdue Student Veterans Organization (PSVO) and senior assistant dean of military veteran and nontraditional students. “They have a vision of what it takes to make the campus better for their fellow veterans and the initiative to make it happen. This support is helping to create a dedicated space for our student veterans, members of the military, and student family members.
Veteran centers are recognized as an institutional best practice by SVA, the Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) and the American Council on Education, as well as others working in the veteran education space.
“These centers can help student service members and veterans make important connections and wwwelop relationships that we know are associated with successful academic outcomes,” ” said Stacie Hitt, MFRI’s director of education and employment initiatives. “Only 11 SVA-Home Depot awards were given nationally, so for the Purdue SVO to be recognized in this way is a testament to the quality of the organization, its leaders, and its advisors. “
The director of PMU approached Richards with a proposal to relocate the PSVO office space from the basement of Stewart Center to the second floor of Purdue Memorial Union. Since the building was constructed to memorialize those who served in World War I, the, move connects our past and present student veterans.
Now funds from Richards’ budget, other university units and the grant are helping to pay for the needed renovations. The office will also house Richards’ office and the campus veteran certifying official. It is scheduled to open in August.
“I’m ecstatic that we were awarded the grant money,” said Ryan Keene, president of the Purdue Student Veterans Organization. “It was a lot of hard work, but I'm grateful to the Home Depot Foundation and SVA for providing this opportunity.”