Gonzaga Hosts Spokane Regional Veterans’ Conference Sept. 30

GU hosts veterans conference 2017
September 13, 2017

SPOKANE, Wash. –  Gonzaga University will also host the free Spokane Regional Veterans’ Conference, designed to serve and support military veterans and active-duty service members and dependents in the Spokane community, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 30 in the Hemmingson Center Ballroom.

The conference features an opening keynote lecture from retired U.S. Army Col. Greg Gadson, a bilateral above-the-knee amputee, and 18 breakout sessions taught by local business leaders, professors and experts. Local (KHQ TV) news anchor Dan Kleckner will serve as the master of ceremonies.

Gadson, a motivational speaker and occasional film actor, served for more than 20 years as a field artillery officer in multiple efforts including Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Joint Forge, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Breakout session topics include careers and jobs; veteran services and financial workshops; professional development and leadership skills; and veteran storytelling in the digital age. Participants will have access to resume reviews, a hiring fair, experts in business and financial services, networking opportunities and a better understanding of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ benefits and services.

Participants must complete the online registration form or call (509) 313-5606 and leave a detailed message to register before Sept. 20.

Gonzaga to Be Recognized Sept. 29
As Veteran Supportive Campus 

Gonzaga, ranked No. 3 among the West’s best universities for veterans by U.S. News & World Report, will be officially recognized by the Washington State Department of Veteran Affairs as a Veteran Supportive Campus in a ceremony at 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 29 in the Hemmingson Center. The honor reaffirms Gonzaga’s commitment to serving veterans.

Postsecondary or training institutions in Washington approved to accept GI Bill® benefits can receive the certificate, which must be renewed every two years. Partners for Veteran Supportive Campuses is sponsored by the Office of the Governor; Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs; Washington Student Achievement Council; State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board; and the Washington National Guard.

As part of its application for the honor, Gonzaga identified various campus practices that demonstrate a culture of trust and connectedness in support of veterans, including:

  • Monthly veteran breakfasts for faculty, staff and students;
  • Annual events for veterans;
  • The Veteran Ambassador program, where new students are paired with a returner;
  • A permanent POW table in the University cafeteria;
  • Boots Project display in September to promote awareness about veteran suicide;
  • Special recognition at Gonzaga events;
  • Gonzaga’s hosting of the inaugural Spokane Regional Veterans Conference this September;
  • The Center for Public Humanities’ focus on veterans, which began in 2016;
  • Veteran competency trainings throughout Gonzaga departments;
  • Assistant Professor of Communication Studies Lisa Silvestri’s $100,000 National Endowment for the Humanities Grant in the “Dialogues on the Experiences of War” category.

For more information, contact Colleen Vandenboom, assistant dean of student involvement and leadership, at vandenboom@gonzaga.edu or (509) 313-5606.