Traditionally celebrated on Nov. 11, Veterans Day originally marked the anniversary of the end of World War I. At UCCS, the celebration will extend through the week of Nov. 7 to honor the military service of the campus community.
The Veteran and Military Affairs Office has planned Veterans Week events for each day leading up to Veterans Day.
A food drive for homeless and struggling veterans will be hosted on Monday, Nov. 7, according to VMA student engagement programs coordinator Jessica Newman.
“It’s close to Thanksgiving and after doing the homeless veterans care packages we realized that there’s a need for a food drive. What we’re doing is we created a box for a food drive making sure that it’s grabbing people’s attention as they come in [to the office],” she said.
As an incentive to get involved in Veterans Week events, the VMA Office is hosting a raffle. Students and faculty will be allotted one ticket for attending each event and an extra ticket for donating to the food drive.
“Anyone who attends our events will get a raffle ticket, if they donate to the food drive, they’ll get an extra ticket. On Friday we’ll do the raffle and let everyone know who won the prizes,” Newman said.
A staff appreciation breakfast will be held in UC room 303 from 7:30-9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8. The event is open to everyone, including students and nonmilitary. Newman said that Chancellor Venkat Reddy will address attendees at the breakfast.
Wednesday, Nov. 9, kicks off some larger events. A field day will be held on the West Lawn from 1-4 p.m. and will feature a variety of campus departments as well as exhibitors from the community.
Thursday’s luncheon on Nov. 10 is open for students to come and grab a free meal between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., no matter whether they have a direct involvement with the military or not, according to Newman.
As the week comes to a close, the VMA Office plans for booming finale at halftime at Friday’s basketball game at 7 p.m. on Nov. 11 in the Gallogly Events Center.
“That night we got invited by athletics to the halftime show for military appreciation night,” she said.
The VMA Office, along with other organizations including the Wounded Warrior Project, will hand out swag bags to the first 100 people attending the game, and each bag will have a variety of prizes.
Newman said there will also be coffee and donuts in the Student Veteran Center on Friday morning.
Information about Veterans Week events can be found on Mountain Lion Connect.
Event Schedule
Monday: Nov. 7, Food Drive opening, available all week. Located in VMA office.
Tuesday: Nov. 8, faculty and staff breakfast with the chancellor in UC 303, from 7:30-9 a.m. Popcorn bar and games 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in the VMA office.
Wednesday: Nov. 9, field day, located on the West Lawn from 1-4 p.m.
Thursday: Nov. 10, Veterans Day Luncheon for students in the Upper Lodge, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Friday: November 11, coffee and donuts in the VMA office from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Halftime show and swag bag give out in the Gallogly Events Center starting at 7 p.m.
