January 14, 2015

 

Contacts:

Elizabeth Fullon, Veterans Services Club Advisor, 247-3085
Carmen Price, University Communications and Marketing, 657-2269

 

When Vice President Joe Biden told 1,200 student veterans at their annual conference in San Antonio Friday that most were among the most remarkable generation in history—the 9/11 generation—three members from the Montana State University Billings Student Veterans Service Club had front row seats.

 

Veterans attending their national meeting

“You are the finest group of warriors the world has ever known,” Biden told the crowd. “You have all that America needs to not only defend us, but to make us great.”

 

The Student Veterans of America conference drew student veterans from across the United States. MSUB members Mike Jones and Jessie Agnew, along with their faculty advisor Elizabeth Fullon, joined Veterans Service Club President, Matt Rich, for the three-day convention held Jan. 8-10 in San Antonio, Texas.

 

“It was an extreme honor and privilege to be surrounded with people who represent our country, a country I love and care deeply about,” Rich said. “It was uplifting and encouraging to hear the speakers see us as our country’s next leaders.”

 

The Veterans Services Club has re-emerged this year with a strong push to strengthen veteran support programs at MSUB and has about 20 members. The purpose of the club, Rich said, is to unite and organize its membership in a social framework that provides assistance to the special needs of the military community on MSUB’s campuses.

 

The group attended the national conference with the help from the Veterans Student Success Initiative appropriation through the Office of Commissioner of Higher Education.

 

In addition to Biden, the conference featured several other prominent speakers including: Robert McDonald, Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Kyle Carpenter, Medal of Honor winner; Shoshana Johnson, the first African-American female prisoner of war; and Wayne Robinson, CEO of the Student Veterans of America.

 

Rich said that during the conference the group attended workshops and panel discussions that shared best practices and learning innovative ways to make higher education for military and veterans as good as it can possibly be.

 

“As a veteran, it’s the best opportunity ever given to me,” Rich said.

 

More information about the MSUB Student Veterans Services Club and other student clubs can be found on the MSUB Student Life website

 

For additional information, contact the groups advisor, Elizabeth Fullon, at 247-3085 or efullon@msubillings.edu.