Friday Focus: Historic ties between ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ and veterans
Nov. 11, 2022
— By Owen Guthrie, vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management
Today is Veterans Day. Veterans are essential to what we have been and are essential to what we will be. This day of honor and recognition is about taking a moment to feel and express gratitude as we contemplate this generous gift of service.
This specific date is rooted in the end of the First World War. Originally known as Armistice Day, the date was chosen to commemorate the armistice agreement which ended the First World War effective on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
Just as this day is rooted in the end of that historic conflict, ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ’s origins are tied to its beginning. America declared war on Germany and joined the First World War on April 6, 1917. Just 27 days later on May 3, 1917, our institution was founded as the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Agricultural College and School of Mines.
At the time, strategic minerals were just as critical to our national defense as they are today and Kennecott Copper was one of the three largest copper mines in the United States. Copper was desperately needed for artillery shell casings and other essential supplies for the war effort. There was an urgent need for miners, mining engineers, and for the minerals they produced; the new School of Mines in ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ was to be part of the solution. Most of us think of gold when we think of ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ’s mineral and mining history, but Kennecott was the most economically productive single ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñn ore deposit in ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ.
ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ’s service toward national defense, related research, and industries has always been important. Today, we are . Even more important is our long and rich history of directly serving members of our armed services and their families. Our veterans have given deeply of themselves to our nation and to our collective well being. They have given of themselves to protect our freedoms and to support our national policies abroad and we, in turn, give back.
We provided pathways to opportunity for veterans of the Great War, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and most recently to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Serving those who serve is the right thing to do.
For over 100 years, young soldiers, airmen, guardians, and their families have come from all over the U.S. to serve at Fort Wainwright, Eielson Air Force Base, Fort Greely, Clear Space Force Station, and other ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñn installations. While fulfilling their role of service, our veterans found ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ a home for their educational pursuits. They have sought self betterment and we have benefited. Our classes and our community have been enriched by their diverse backgrounds and perspectives and by their passion for achievement.
Over this history, military-affiliated alumni numbering in the thousands, if not tens of thousands, have graduated from ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ. Building careers on their service experiences and ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ education, military members are an essential part of the foundations of our community. Many of our faculty, staff, and administrators are veterans and more than a few are veterans and alumni of ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ.
In addition to those who settled in ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ, countless military students have had a change of station to another location during their service. Through our fully online programs offered through , these students maintain their connection to ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ and attain their educational goals no matter where they land. As a result, we now serve military students enrolled in our courses and programs from over 35 countries around the world, and have veteran alumni in all 50 states numbering in the thousands.
Serving veterans effectively has always been important at ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ and more than ever, we are working to improve our services for those who serve. Recently, for active-duty, reserve, and National Guard personnel, ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ created the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Military Rate to align with financial aid provided through the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance program. In addition to providing a ‘TA aligned’ military tuition rate, we offer resident tuition for veterans, spouses and children of military and veterans, as well as credits for military training and VA educational benefits advising for qualifying students.
In honor of Veterans Day, please join the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Department of Military and Veteran Services in the Wood Center multilevel lounge today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a Veterans Day appreciation event. Donuts, coffee and other beverages will be provided. Experts from many student services departments will be available to answer any questions you have, help you get ready for the spring semester, assist in scheduling appointments with your academic advisor if you haven't already, and get your courses certified for military or veteran benefits. No RSVP is necessary.
To all our veterans, we are humbled and grateful for your service. To all the members of our military community, and to our military families, thank you! We are grateful for the opportunity to serve you. Happy Veterans Day!
Friday Focus is a column written by a different member of ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ's leadership team every week.