Veterans Service Video Text Versions

Kenneth B. Black
Acting Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs

This is a special day, and on behalf of the Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs congratulations to the Madison Area Technical College for receiving a $100,000 award for Project SAVE (Success and Access for Veterans Education). The two-year grant from the American Council on Education, or ACE, and the Wal-Mart Foundation will be utilized by the Madison Area Technical College to support the efforts of enhancing the education experiences for veterans transitioning from military life to college life.

Our Mission Welcome Home program also includes and involves communities as we create a community of caring for veterans. This partnership of ACE Wal-Mart grant is a wonderful example of coming together to make a difference in veterans’ lives.

As you know, Madison College already has a robust program of services for veterans who are transitioning to the college life. What a great team player. Their current programs include a Vets for Vets Club, listening sessions, a Veterans Service Advisory Council consisting of local and state veterans’ groups, information about federal and state veterans’ benefits and the Veterans Benefit Fairs.  

Madison College’s goals and plans for how the grant funding would support student veterans and their activities are important in several areas: for more personalized support, for better access to services, and for better connection to their peers.

I am confident that Madison College will continue to refine the already excellent system. The services and benefits they provide to the veterans and their families are just going to get better.

Finally, let me say that I think it’s extremely important that the student veterans and their families become very familiar with the services and benefits available to them, and I know you need to connect to one another (that’s for you veterans out there) beyond council, and beyond club meetings, and Facebook pages so that they can easily find each other for support and mentorship.

This Project SAVE grant will be much appreciated by Madison College and its veteran students. Investing in the future of veterans’ education not only is rewarding but we should also remember it is doing the right thing for those who have served our nation and done much for all of us.
 

Brigadier General Mark E. Anderson
Assistant Adjunct General, Wisconsin Army National Guard

As the commander of the Wisconsin Army National Guard, I say Wisconsin is standing strong. It’s because of your support, the support of the people around Wisconsin, doing whatever they can do to help, reaching out to our men and women in uniform and their families. It’s the right thing to do, and it is exactly what Madison Area Technical College is doing here today, creating and building partnerships with veterans, their families and other community members to ensure we honor and support those who have served and those who continue to serve Wisconsin and this great nation.

Presently, we have over 3,600 men and women, soldiers and airmen of the Wisconsin National Guard who are currently on duty, the men and women that Madison College is stepping up to serve and honor today. Answering the call has placed an enormous burden on the shoulders of our service members and their families. But I can assure you that these men and women are doing extraordinary work, and I know without a doubt none of it would be possible without the strength and initiative and the integrity of the families, the friends and our communities.
Communities like Madison and Madison College have stepped up to be a part of the Wisconsin military community covenant building programs and partnerships that support the strength, resilience and readiness of our service members and families. And now because of the $100,000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation and the American Council on Education we are here today with Madison Area Technical College to expand these programs with the success of the Veterans Education Project SAVE.

Project SAVE will provide veterans, our soldiers and airmen, Marines, and sailors with a tool right here on campus to cope with unique challenges of military life. Project SAVE expands services provided at veterans service centers on the campus to include more outreach and expanded counseling and psychological services. Project SAVE supports the strength, resilience and readiness of service members and families, and as the commander of the 8,000 men and women of the Wisconsin Army National Guard, I can’t thank you enough.