Tag Archives: Veterans

EVENTS, FACULTY, FEATURED, NEWS, SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

Seven Prior Servicemembers Graduate from TSU Veterans’ Training Program as IT Specialists

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – As a certified “Vet Campus,” Tennessee State University provides programs and support services to ease veterans’ transition from military service to college life, as well as providing them opportunities to learn skills necessary for the workforce. Recently, seven prior servicemembers received certificates as information technology specialists after graduating from a training program offered through the TSU Continuing Education and Workforce Development Unit.

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The recent graduates of the TSU veterans’ training programs are, from left, James McGrath, Darren Cornish, Bobby Panya, Edward Holcomb, Latrina Serrano, Royal Riley and Daniel Noriega. (Submitted Photo)

The Workforce Opportunities Services program, created in 2010 to train and prepare veterans for today’s highly competitive workforce, conducted the 26-week, 10-course training program in partnership with TSU, BNY Mellon, and Workforce Essentials Inc. The WOS program provides veterans with critical professional skills for the corporate work environment while earning academic units.

Those graduating recently were 11-year Army veteran Bobby Panya; former Army field artillery automated tactical data systems specialist Daniel Noriega; former Army intelligence analyst Darren Cornish, who currently attends TSU; and Edward Holcomb, a former Army cannon crewmember, who served 18 years in the military.

Other graduates were James McGrath, an Army National Guardsman, who also served 13 years in the Tennessee National Guard; Royal Riley, a former Air Force aircraft mechanic; and Latrina Serrano, a former Navy interior communications electrician.

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Dr. Cheryl Seay, director of the TSU Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology, addresses the graduates during the ceremony on the Avon Williams campus. (Submitted Photo)

According to TSU officials involved with the program, the newly trained veterans will continue to build their technical and workplace skills as full-time WOS contractors for BNY Mellon with the expectation they will transition to full-time employees in the next 12 months.

“We are especially proud of the sacrifice of our veterans and we are equally committed to ensuring their educational experience at Tennessee State University is a success,” said Dr. Evelyn Nettles, associate vice president for Academic Affairs. “As a certified ‘Vet Friendly Campus,’ we provide the necessary resources to make certain their educational dreams become reality. These resources include partnering with programs like WOS and the executive team at BNY Mellon to bring about successful outcomes.”

Russ Yorks, director of veterans programs at WOS, said for the training program to be successful it must include a corporate sponsor that recognizes the value of cultivating talent, a challenging yet nurturing university partner, and a talent pool of motivated individuals eager to transition into a career with a Fortune 500 company.

“We were lucky enough to find all three here in Nashville with Bank of New York Mellon, Tennessee State University, and the extraordinary military veteran talent residing in the area,” York said.

Michael Biedermann, managing director and global head of Recruitment Client Technology at BNY Mellon, said trainers, clients and managers have given positive feedback about the success of the program and the on-the-job performance of the trainees.

“This program has proven to be a successful, uplifting and empowering experience for not only our WOS participants but also for the greater Nashville community,” Biedermann said. “We couldn’t be more excited to have this talented team join our company.”

Other speakers at the Aug. 6 graduation ceremony on the Avon Williams Campus were Dr. Cheryl Seay, director of the TSU Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology; and Jim Grech, executive vice president of BNY Mellon.

Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

About Tennessee State University

With more than 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 undergraduate, 22 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.

FEATURED, NEWS, RANKINGS

THEC to Present Certified Veterans Campus Award to Tennessee State University March 31

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – The Tennessee Higher Education Commission will formally present Tennessee State University with the Certified “Vets Campus” designation Tuesday, March 31 during a special recognition ceremony beginning at 10 a.m. at the Avon Williams Campus.

The University first received word of the distinction during the Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11, 2014 when Dr. Mark Hardy, vice president of Academic Affairs, announced the award.

The designation recognizes the institution’s efforts toward increasing the educational attainment of student veterans. Passed into law in 2014, the Tennessee Veterans Education Transition Support (VETS) Act created an honorary program classification for state colleges and universities that effectively foster a supportive environment for veterans.

This “VETS Campus” designation recognizes institutions that dedicate resources toward helping Veterans transition from military service to enrollment in a higher education institution.

“This designation means that the University provides support services especially for veterans to ease their transition from military service to college life,” Hardy said. “Some are transitioning from military life to civilian life while adjusting to the ins and outs of college. Many are nontraditional students with spouses and children, who need help in navigating their way. We help them find resources or put them in the right direction for help to make their educational experience more rewarding.”

To attain the “Vets Campus” designation, schools must meet statutory criteria, including the facilitation of support and mentoring programs for veterans, in addition to ensuring academic credit is received for skills and training received during military service.  Schools must also educate faculty and staff about veterans’ culture, including information on the combat-related mental or physical disabilities many soldiers face during and after their service.

Russ Deaton, interim Executive Director of THEC, and Tom Morrison, Assistant Executive Director of Veterans Education, are scheduled to make the formal presentation. Media interested in covering the event should call the Department of Media Relations at 615.963.5331.

 

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Department of Media Relations

Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

About Tennessee State University

With more than 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 42 undergraduate, 24 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.

FACULTY, FEATURED, GRANTS, NEWS

Tennessee State University Receives USDA Grant to Aid Veteran, New and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers

Funds focus on outreach and technical assistance to diversify American Agriculture

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University has received funding to help beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers, veteran farmers and ranchers build a more resilient agriculture system.

The University’s College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences received $188,055 recently from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of a $9.7 million grant to educate and provide technical assistance to agriculture businesses.

The grant, distributed through the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Grant Program, will help faculty and extension agents from the University encourage, educate and assist socially and financially disadvantaged farmers and producers to operate their farms more efficiently, and if able, purchase new farmland and become even more successful farmers and producers.

“We will specifically focus on socially disadvantaged farmers and land owners, and try to educate them on a variety of financial and technical help, and the opportunities available,” said Dr. Chandra Reddy, dean and director of Research and administrator of Extension in the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences. “We want to make sure that they are on an even footing with large-farm owners when it comes to technical assistance and funding opportunities.”

The grant money, according to Dr. Arvazena Clardy, assistant professor of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, will be used to conduct workshops around the state, and educate farmers and producers on business development and expansion, small herd management, plant nutrition, and food safety and new farm technology among other topics.

The grant will also be used toward a future New Farmer Academy where new owners and potential owners of small acreages receive training on ways to best utilize their land for crops and livestock. The most recent five-month academy graduated nine candidates who learned about opportunities to expand into new areas of production, gain access to and knowledge about federal funds and programs, as well as develop new marketing strategies to make them more successful.

The goal, said Clardy, is to work with small and limited resource producers, farmers and landowners, and work individually with them on specific problems related to their farms and production.

“We are committed to improving the economic conditions of the socially disadvantaged farmers and landowners here in Tennessee,” said Clardy. “This grant will give us the opportunity to educate them about the accessibility of programs and new farm technology, as well as provide hands-on training, and one-on-one outreach and technical assistance.”

The grant was announced December 3 by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, who described the funding as part of “our ongoing commitment” to identify, recruit and train a vibrant next generation of farmers and ranchers who can carry American agriculture into the future. “It is also part of our pledge to assist military veterans find economic opportunity as they return to civilian life,” Vilsack added.

 

 

 

Department of Media Relations

Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

About Tennessee State University

With more than 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 42 undergraduate, 24 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.

NEWS

Tennessee State University Designated Certified Veterans Campus, as Students Form Association for Ex-Service Men and Women

Dr. Mark Hardy, Vice President of Academic Affairs, left; and Air Force Lt. Col. Lavern E. Curry, Commander and Professor of Aerospace Studies, lay a wreath to the memory of the nation veterans who have died in the service of their country, during a ceremony marking Veterans Day at the Amphitheater. (photos by John Cross, TSU Media Relations)
Dr. Mark Hardy, Vice President of Academic Affairs, left; and Air Force Lt. Col. Lavern E. Curry, Commander and Professor of Aerospace Studies, lay a wreath to the memory of the nation veterans who have died in the service of their country, during a ceremony marking Veterans Day at the Amphitheater. (photos by John Cross, TSU Media Relations)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University now has a variety of services specifically designed to help veterans succeed in college while transitioning from military life to civilian life.

The University has been designated a Certified Vets Campus, which designation comes on the heels of the formation of a TSU Student Veterans Association.

At the annual Veterans Day ceremony on campus Tuesday to recognize the contributions of the nation’s veterans and service men and women, Dr. Mark Hardy, vice president of Academic Affairs, announced that the Certified Vets designation recognizes the University’s effort in providing support for prior service members who want to pursue further education.

“This designation means that the University provides support services especially for veterans to ease their transition from military service to college life,” Hardy said, as he welcomed former service men and women, faculty, staff, students and visitors on behalf of President Glenda Glover, who was on travel.

Veterans on campus often make several transitions at the same time, Hardy said.

“Some are transitioning from military life to civilian life while adjusting to the ins and outs of college,” he noted. “Many are nontraditional students with spouses and children, who need help in navigating their way. We help them find resources or put them in the right direction for help to make their educational experience more rewarding.

And the experience is even more rewarding and helpful if it is students helping students.

Former Army Chief Warrant Officer Brent Warner, President of the TSU Student Veterans Association, makes a presentation at the Veterans Day Ceremony.
Former Army Chief Warrant Officer Brent Warner, President of the TSU Student Veterans Association, makes a presentation at the Veterans Day Ceremony.

That’s why three prior servicemen and current TSU students have come together to form the TSU Student Veterans Association to help their fellow veterans reintegrate into campus life and succeed academically.

Former Army Chief Warrant Officer Brent Warner, of Santa Maria, California; Navy Petty Officer Ayele Tegegne, of Anaheim, California; and Army Staff Sgt. David Potter, of Detroit, are all junior Mechanical Engineering majors, who served at various times and decided to return to college.

“Today’s veterans face numerous obstacles in their path of attaining a college degree,” said Warner, president of TSVA. . “Missing a sense of camaraderie to feeling like an outsider among 18-year-old traditional students to a lack of understanding by faculty, are major challenges for many of these students.”

In some instances, when these challenges are coupled with the “visible and invisible wounds of war,” a college degree can be an elusive goal for men and women returning from military service.

The TSVA helps student veterans understand and know about available resources such as financial aid, scholarship opportunities, online classes, mentoring, as well as advocates for veterans by helping university officials learn about issues that vets face.

Warner said their goal is to become a chapter of the Student Veterans of America, as an officially recognized student group that provides a peer-to-peer network for veterans who are attending TSU. Membership to TSVA is open to all but to vote and vie for an elected post you must be a veteran or a current service man or woman.

For more information on the TSU Certified Vets Campus call Student Support Services at 615-9637001. To reach the TSVA, email bwarner@my.tnstate.edu.

The TSU Veterans Day program included a wreath-laying ceremony, and tribute by former TSU President, Dr. Melvin N. Johnson. University administrators, faculty, students, staff and visitors attended the program in the Amphitheater.

 

 

 

 

Department of Media Relations

Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

About Tennessee State University

With more than 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 42 undergraduate, 24 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.