Kalamazoo Valley to Host Oct. 8 Veterans Resource Day

Veterans and service members of all ages in Southwest Michigan are invited to a Veterans Resource Day on Oct. 8 at Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s Texas Township Campus in the Student Commons.

Michigan has the 11th highest percentage of veterans in the country, but in 2011 we ranked last among the 50 states on veteran’s funding per capita, according to Elizabeth Lyons, Director of Student Veteran Services at Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

KVCC's Veterans Resource Day will provide all veterans and service members of all ages with an opportunity to speak with representatives from various local, state and federal veterans organizations regarding VA healthcare, GI educational benefits, and the MI Veterans Trust Fund, employment resources, and many other areas, including, but not limited to, Kalamazoo County Veteran Service Specialists, Buddy-to-Buddy, VetSuccess on Campus, Military OneSource, and Homes For Heroes. Details about employment opportunities through Styker Corporation, Schupan & Sons Inc., American Axle, Headhunting For Vets, Hiring Heroes List, and Veterans' Employment Specialists will also be available.

Major General Michael Lehnert will give the 10 a.m. keynote address. His talk is titled, “The Student Veteran: Yesterday’s Warriors, Today’s Scholars, Tomorrow’s Leaders.” Major General Michael R. Lehnert served as Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations West and graduated from Central Michigan University in 1973 with an undergraduate degree in History. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the PLC program. Currently, Major General Lehnert serves as a senior adviser to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Networking opportunities and lunch open house run from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. At 12:30 p.m., the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency presents "MVAA: a centralized, coordinating point for veteran resources."

Networking with resources continues from 1 to 2 p.m. Veterans who are interested in completing an application for healthcare benefits should bring in a copy of their DD-214 and their most current tax information. Veterans seeking employment should bring in a copy of their resume. For more information, contact Elizabeth Lyons at 269.488.4873 or alyons@kvcc.edu or www.kvcc.edu/veterans.