VALOR hosted a Veterans Day ceremony on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. The ceremony included opening remarks from VALOR faculty representative Carol Cwiak, associate professor of emergency management, and NDSU Vice Provost Laura Oster-Aaland.

NDSU Human Resources director John Woolsey, retired Marine Corps master sergeant and VALOR advisory board member, gave a commemorative speech that honored the service of veterans.

The speakers were followed by a bagpipe rendition of “When the Battle is O’er,” performed by retired Air Force major Jim Stoddard, assistant director of Veterans Educational Training with NDSU Student Success Programs; Carol Haukebo, NDSU Budget Office analyst; Dan Aird, an alumnus of NDSU; and Meri Quanbeck, mother of NDSU sophomore Jamison Quanbeck.

NDSU Army and Air Force ROTC cadets conducted the flag raising ceremony led by ROTC Cadet Sergeant Major Crysta Halgrimson along with Cadets Alex Gustafson, Olivia Nellermoe, and Jacob Boguslawski from the Army ROTC, and Cadets Randy Peterson and Cole Eidsvoog of the Air Force ROTC.

Isaac Hicks, a senior instrumental music education major at NDSU, played “Taps” to conclude the ceremony.

On February 12, 2019, President Dean Bresciani signed the U.S. Department of Education's "8 Keys to Veterans' Success" commitment on behalf of NDSU.

In signing the 8 Keys, Dr. Bresciani promised to ensure that veterans receive the best possible support and educational experience at NDSU.

The 8 Keys

1.     Create a culture of trust and connectedness across the campus community to promote well-being and success for veterans.

2.     Ensure consistent and sustained support from campus leadership.

3.     Implement an early alert system to ensure all veterans receive academic, career, and financial advice before challenges become overwhelming.

4.     Coordinate and centralize campus efforts for all veterans, together with the creation of a designated space for them (even if limited in size).

5.     Collaborate with local communities and organizations, including government agencies, to align and coordinate various services for veterans.

6.     Utilize a uniform set of data tools to collect and track information on veterans, including demographics, retention, and degree completion.

7.     Provide comprehensive professional development for faculty and staff on issues and challenges unique to veterans.

8.     Develop systems that ensure sustainability of effective practices for veterans.

ND Cares Signing Ceremony, September 17, 2018 (From left to right: Grant Larson, Fargo ND Cares; Kelsey Handt, NDSU ND Cares (student representative); Carol Cwiak, NDSU ND Cares (VALOR representative); Jim Stoddard, NDSU ND Cares (VET Program representative), Connie Sprynczynatyk, ND Cares; President Bresciani, NDSU; Darcie Handt, ND Cares; and, Major General Alan Dohrmann, North Dakota National Guard.