Northwest Nazarene University invites the community, students, faculty, and staff to the grand opening of its Office of Veterans Services on Tuesday, April 7, at 4 p.m. on the campus of NNU.

The event will include remarks by NNU President David Alexander, Director of Veterans Services Bob Sanchez, and representatives from the NNU Student Veterans Club. After the ceremony, the public is invited to tour the new veterans’ center. Free parking will be provided; please follow the directional signs to the Student Center upon arriving on campus.

More than 70 students at NNU are veterans, members of the military, or military dependents — approximately 3 percent of the total student body — and that number is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. 

The NNU Office of Veterans Services is designed to support student veterans and military family members beyond the classroom while providing services that reinforce transition and improve retention. It is set up as a one-stop shop for student veterans who need help with G.I. benefits, transcripts, and other issues as they transition into college life.

“In 1946 my father was a freshman and lived in ‘Vetville’ on NNU’s campus, so NNU’s care for U.S. military is a part of my own family heritage," Alexander said. "I am delighted that we are now able to serve a new generation of U.S. military personnel through the Office of Veterans Services.”

The office will work closely with other campus departments, including Military Science, Student Services, and Enrollment and Marketing, to help veterans achieve their educational and employment goals. A mentor program involving veterans on the NNU faculty will also be established to provide student veterans with academic advising. 

“At Northwest Nazarene University, we’ve seen a growing number of military veterans taking advantage of the G.I. Bill to seek higher education,” Sanchez said. “We want to give them a welcoming, supportive environment to help ease their transition from military life to college and civilian life as they pursue their academic goals.”

The Office of Veterans Services will provide a place for student veterans to study, socialize with other veterans, and meet with academic advisors, tutors, and mentors. This space will also serve as a home base for the NNU Student Veterans Club. The club members are currently developing projects to unite university veterans with the local community and promote student involvement in the newly established Student Veterans Club.

“I am very excited for this grand opening because I believe the Office of Veterans Services will serve as a multipurpose center for veterans and civilian students alike,” said Brice Towne, a veteran and freshman nursing major from Nampa. “It’s a place where veterans can speak our minds and be with others who understand what we’ve been through. But I believe it will also provide a bridge to help civilian students learn more about vets, dispel misconceptions, and raise awareness of the advantages that student veterans bring to our community.”

For more information, contact Bob Sanchez, director of Veterans Services, at 208-467-8503 or robertsanchez@nnu.edu.

--Northwest Nazarene University