Chez Veterans Center’s Director, Andrew Bender, spoke with Jeff Snyder from BRNAM Broadcast Retirement Network about going to college as a Military Veteran. Watch the interview by clicking here. The post Tips for Going to College as a Military Veteran appeared first on Chez Center ..read more

The Chez Veterans Center serves as leaders in supporting our military-connected through higher education. While our building not only exceeds ADA standards, we also support potential and current students with researching military-friendly colleges, engaging in campus life for better integration, utilizing military benefits, and converting military experience into college credits. Read the full article by clicking U.S. News. The post Tips for Going to College as a Military Veteran appeared first on Chez Center ..read more

Our students come from an array of backgrounds and experiences. We strive to offer placements that can offer unique experiences and knowledge for students interested in learning about the military-connected populations. Tera Sparks completed her internship this Fall, supporting programs and services including our Veterans Day Event and our Food Pantry Initiative. We asked Tera to share more about her experience. Tera writes: Hi my name is Tera Sparks and I was an intern at the Chez Veteran Center during the fall semester of 2023. I am a senior majoring in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences and ..read more

Dr. Brent Blackwell’s remarkable journey encompasses a transition from a frugal upbringing outside Chicago to esteemed accomplishments in the medical field. Joining the military at 17 year old, he sought direction and challenge, eventually serving as an Army Ranger combat medic in Afghanistan. His experiences there ignited a passion for medicine, leading him to the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, where he excelled as a Kinesiology and Community Health student and recognized as a James Scholar. Driven by his dedication to service, Blackwell le ..read more

The Chez Veterans Center regularly hosts interns from different programs across the college. During the Fall, we hosted Cristian Pulgarin for his placement as he worked to support our mission. We asked Cristian to share about himself, his experience as an intern at the CVC, and his professional goals. Cristian writes: My name is Cristian Pulgarin, and I am a second-year graduate student pursuing my Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Before entering graduate studies, I earned a bachelor’s degree in public health, and I am pr ..read more

After the success of last summer’s 2nd cohort of the Warrior-Scholar Project (WSP), featured on WCIA News, we are thrilled to be hosting our third cohort. This summer will be a one week  STEM academic boot camp from July 18thru July 27 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. During this academic boot camp, enlisted service members and recently transitioning Veterans will be able to revisit college-level reading, writing, math, and physics while they live on our campus and learn from UIUC faculty. In addition, the cohort will visit various research labs around campus and work on th ..read more

The Chez Veterans Center hosted a poignant exhibit, shedding light on the often-overlooked struggles of military veterans coping with PTSD, showcasing the diversity of their trauma experiences. Presented by the RUSH Road Home Program, this display challenges misconceptions surrounding military trauma, highlighting its varied impact across different roles and branches. Read more about the exhibit in these two articles: Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette: New Exhibit Unmasks Vets’ Inner Struggle The Daily Illini: Mask exhibition showcases veterans’ inner battles at Chez Veterans Center The post Mask ..read more

The Chez Veterans Center hosted their annual Veterans Day Celebration featuring Keynote Speaker, Mr. Samuel K. Skinner.  Read more about the event and the 2023 Keynote Speaker in these articles: Daily Illini: Chez Veterans Center Hosts Veterans Day Celebration Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette: UI grad who served as chief of staff to elder Bush sees importance of thanking veterans The post 2023 Chez Veterans Center Veterans Day Celebration appeared first on Chez Center ..read more

Student Highlight: Cloie Widell (Army National Guard) The Chez Veterans Center staff are proud of the work of our students. Cloie Widell was a work study, Resident Assistant, and overall leader for many of our military-connected students this Fall semester. We asked Cloie to share about herself and ways she strives to have a positive impact on her peers and community. Cloie writes: My name is Cloie Widell and I am a senior at UIUC studying Interdisciplinary Health Sciences with a minor in Healthcare Administration. I grew up in the city of Rockford Illinois and first decided to join the Illin ..read more

Supporting our military-affiliated students experiencing food insecurity through our continuous food drive initiative has been an incredible journey marked by unwavering generosity and community kindness. Our food pantry has served students from all military backgrounds, including National Guard, Reserves, Veterans, and military-family members attending the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.  Thanks to generous contributions from staff, alumni, Registered Student Organizations, and community members, our food pantry has been a beacon of hope, ensuring essential nourishment for th ..read more