West Liberty University is honoring students and staff who are veterans, GI Bill recipients and their family members, from 3-5 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 10, with a Veterans Day Picnic.
“This picnic is a way to honor our veterans and to generate more outreach to veterans and their families who are right here on campus. We also want to build camaraderie among our campus veterans and their family members,” said Sean Ryan, who is an assistant professor of management and healthcare management and interim MBA program director.
Ryan also is a retired colonel who served 30 years in the U.S. Army Special Forces. Assisting Ryan is Louis Leonhart, who teaches computer information systems, and Ben Taylor, who is a graduate assistant in the MBA program.
WLU has numerous staff members who are veterans and all are encouraged to attend the picnic. About 45 GI Bill recipients also attend classes as students.
Veteran Outreach Specialist Michael Novotney of Wheeling also is attending the picnic. A 2010 alumnus of WLU, Novotney works at the local Vet Center and helps veterans and their families in a variety of ways, especially in obtaining federal benefits.
“WLU has countless alumni who have served or are presently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and is pleased to thank them for their service in this manner. We are grateful for their work in keeping our country safe and strong,” said Dr. Stephen Greiner, WLU president.
For more information or to reach WLU’s GI Bill Coordinator, call Katie Cooper, director of financial aid, at 304-336-8131