Oct 02, 2014
Kansas City, Mo. – The VFW will host the 2014 Student Veterans of America (SVA) Leadership Summit Oct. 2-4 in Kansas City. The VFW’s involvement with the upcoming summit is in keeping with its commitment to ensuring America’s student veterans have the tools and support needed to succeed in their education endeavors.
During the summit, 40 student veteran leaders from campus chapters across America will convene to discuss campus level concepts that work to ease a veteran’s transition from the military to higher education and then to the workforce. Further, it allows them the opportunity to network with and gain personal feedback from area business leaders, as well as VFW leadership.
Students will be greeted with a welcome reception Thursday evening. On Friday, local area business leaders will join the group to discuss strategic planning, resource management and best business practices. Students will be paired with area leaders to mentor them as they work to design and develop a business plan to further their local chapter’s initiatives. Then on Saturday, the plans will be presented to a panel of business experts who will provide feedback and advice on the further development and implementation of the plan.
“We’re pleased to be able to host this important event. Today’s student veterans must work to overcome the adversity that comes with successfully transitioning from the military to the classroom,” said VFW National Commander John W. Stroud who graduated with honors from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. “They need all of the support they can garner, and we want them to know they can rely on the VFW. We’ve been there, so we know what they need to succeed in their next mission in life.”
The VFW and SVA teamed up in 2012 to combine expertise, resources and effort to ensure student veterans receive the support they need as they work toward attaining a higher education. Together, they’ve achieved much success in their young partnership. In early 2013, the groups led a successful fight to reinstate military Tuition Assistance programs. They battled for equitable tuition for student veterans attending public schools — a hot-button issue that affects more than 40,000 veterans on college campuses around the country. And together, the VFW and SVA launched the 1 Student Veteran program to ensure student veterans gain access to their earned benefits and are able to navigate the complex education claims process.