CWU veterans center now open to students

ELLENSBURG, Wash. -- Student veterans now have access to a new Veterans Services Center at Central Washington University.

The center officially opened last week in Room 463 of the Psychology Building. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, CWU President James Gaudino, First Gentleman Mike Gregoire and John Lee, director of the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, spoke on the center's importance.

Manager Susie Beador said it will serve the university's veteran population -- which now totals 289. The goal is to provide students with information on the G.I. Bill's benefits and how to succeed in higher education. The center will also connect students with awareness of on- and off-campus veteran services, she said.

"It's something that was long overdue," Beador said. "We're here to serve them and point them in the direction for other services that might be available in our community."

The center is manned by Beador and three student employees, who are also veterans. It will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

In addition to the university, the Veterans Services Center gained a mixture of financial and programming support from the governor's office, the Washington National Guard, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs and the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board.

University officials said the HEC Board will work with Central to serve veterans who are college students, such as training staff and faculty to make them aware of veterans' needs after returning from combat zones.

The board will assist the university on how to create "safe zones," or places where veterans can talk with and help one another transition to civilian life, such as through a veterans' club, recognition events and student orientations specifically for them.

* Erin Snelgrove can be reached at 509-577-7684 or esnelgrove@yakimaherald.com.