Military Community
October 2016-Ashford University Newsletter
Military Development and Engagement
The Military Community Newsletter at Ashford University was created for you to learn about and share community events, resources, and key topics relevant to service members, veterans, and their families nationwide. Please contact Ashford's Military Development and Engagement Specialist if you have questions or additional resources you would like to share with your fellow military community.
IN THIS ISSUE
- Career Services Events for Students and Alumni
- Military Education Outreach Team and Events
- Veterans Magazine: Best of the Best 2016 List
- Networking on LinkedIn
Military Student Spotlight: Sally Rejas
Military Development and Engagement
Get Connected with Military CHAMPS
Ashford Homefront Heroes Scholarship
Nationwide Conference Calendar by Month: US Veterans Magazine
- Previous Editions
Military Education Outreach Team and Events
Veterans Magazine: Best of the Best List 2016
U.S. Veterans Magazine (USVM) released last month the results of its much-anticipated 2016 evaluation of the nation’s Best of the Best Top Veteran-Friendly Companies, Top Supplier Diversity Programs, Top Government & Law Enforcement Agencies and Top Veteran-Friendly Schools.
U.S. Veterans Magazine (USVM) polled hundreds of Fortune 1000 companies for this year’s Best of the Best evaluations. The annual review is an evaluation of the nation’s employers, initiatives, government agencies and educational institutions. These non-biased studies are valuable resources for job-seekers, business owners, students, consumers, senior management, business associations, employment agencies and consumer groups.
Ashford was ranked on this list, see who else made the cut.
Networking on LinkedIn
Ashford also has an Alumni and Student group on LinkedIn which is another great avenue for getting connected with Ashford Students and staying up to date on news regarding networking opportunities throughout the country.
If you are ready to give back and connect with the best of the best Ashford has to offer you can always volunteer to become a CHAMPS Peer Mentor which will give you access to our CHAMPS Mentor group. Connect with these elite students and alumni who are driven, successful, and looking for leadership growth and opportunity. The LinkedIn group is private and only accessed by those who become mentors. Learn more and sign up here.
Military Student Spotlight: Sally Rejas
Meet Sally Rejas-- a mother of two, who served nearly seven years in the Army. She earned her Bachelor’s degree is Social Science and is now pursuing her Master’s degree in Organization Management at Ashford University. She is a finalist for the 2016 Ms Veteran America contest. As a finalist, Rejas raised funding to provide a homeless female veteran and her children 96 days in a suitable home.
Rejas, raised in Puerto Rico and Silver Spring, Maryland, decided to enlist when she was 17. “I decided to join the military because I wanted to be all that I can be,” as advertised back in 2001. Rejas wanted to go to college and to serve her country. "I know firsthand the struggles of transitioning out of the military and not finding any resources or programs for female veterans", Ashford University online classes have allowed her to serve in her community and work on her degree at the same time.
Rejas’ goal is to make her community a better place in support of homeless female veterans in Maryland. Rejas said, “I will work in the community to break barriers, because it is time to make some changes. When people think of Soldiers, they will not forget the women who have served.” There are currently more than 55,000 homeless female veterans according to the Department of Veterans Affair. The Master’s program in Organization Management has enabled her to learn to manage programs and her campaign for Ms Veteran America.
The contest was created in 2012 by Jas Boothe, a veteran who was preparing to deploy when Hurricane Katrina hit and washed her house away. Less than a month later, she was diagnosed with cancer in her head, neck, and throat and was discharged from the Army Reserves. With her home washed away, she had nowhere to go, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs told her they didn’t have any programs for female veterans with children.
Boothe beat cancer, and once back on her feet, she was determined that “no other female veterans would be left behind.” Boothe then founded Final Salute Inc, an organization designed to meet and understand the unique needs of homeless women veterans and their children, and the Ms Veteran America competition, which proceeds benefit Final Salute Inc. Rejas is looking forward to the finals on October 9, 2016 in Washington, DC.
Email: sallyrejas@yahoo.com
Website: https://www.crowdrise.com/mva2016sallyr
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SallyR4MVA2016-1008968015831848/?ref=hl
Twitter: @SallyR4MVA2016
Military Development and Engagement
Stephanie Kinman six year Navy Veteran spent two of those years attached to a Marine unit. She is well versed in understanding the unique challenges military students face. She achieved her undergraduate degree in Psychology from University of Phoenix and her MSW with a focus on Military and Veteran Populations from University of Southern California.
Stephanie is dedicated to the military student population and brings her education, social work background and personal experience, both in the military and in the classroom, to provide resources, community events, and hot topic webinars to the military students at Ashford University.
She created the Ashford Military Community Newsletter (that provides University, local, and national resources), oversees the CHAMPS Peer Mentor Program for military affiliated students, and recently kicked off the Military Speaker Series as a means to elevate military cultural competency university wide.
Get Connected with Military CHAMPS
Ashford understands the challenges of being a military affiliated student while pursuing higher education. We have developed a syllabus dedicated to addressing those unique needs. It is our goal to pair up Military Mentees with Military Mentors so there is common ground and cultural understanding where the pair speaks the same language.
Deployments, frequent moves, and field exercises can all be distracting when you are attending classes. Connect with a Mentor who can help navigate those overwhelming waters, provide resources, tips, and personal experience to help you be as successful as possible while also building a relationship with another peer.
Top Reasons Mentees Join CHAMPS:
- To get to know another student on a personal level
- For support and guidance on managing time and other commitments
- For advice and encouragement as you begin your academic journey
- Tips to navigate Ashford Writing Center, Library and student Portal.
Ashford Homefront Heroes Scholarship
Since its foundation in 2010 the Homefront Heroes Scholarship recognizes that families, especially the spouses sacrifice much alongside their loved ones in uniform. Ashford recognizes the spouses as the homefront heroes, and their dedication deserves some reward.
Ashford University is proud again to offer five scholarship opportunities to San Diego County military spouses at both the Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree levels. Military spouses can earn their degree anywhere in online degree programs at Ashford University. To be considered for a scholarship, you will be required to write essays answering two unique questions. Please visit AshfordHomefrontHeroes.com to learn more and to submit your essays between September 12 and November 6, 2016. Recipients will be notified on or around December 1, 2016.
If you do not live in the San Diego area and are looking for another scholarship opportunity please look into the Council of College and Military Educators (CCME) Scholarship Opportunity
Because of Ashford's membership with the Council of College and Military Educators (CCME), our United States Service members (active duty/veterans) and spouses of Service members who are working towards the completion of higher education degrees have an opportunity to apply for CCME scholarships. For questions, please visit http://www.ccmeonline.org/scholarships or send an email to scholarship@ccmeonline.org.
* The newsletter may contain now or in the future links to other websites, such as links to military charities, discounts or offers, or other third parties that may provide services or products to you. These links and this information is being provided to you for your convenience and as a resource. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, the content of, or any other actions of such other websites or their owners or operators, information they may collect or information they may share. Further, the inclusion of an organization on this newsletter does not indicate an endorsement of such organization (or of any religious or political point of view promoted by such organization) by Ashford University or its affiliates.
Citations and URL Image Retrieval
- Veterans Magazine Best of the Best Image. Retrieved from: http://www.usveteransmagazine.com/articles/u-s-veterans-magazine-announces-its-2016-best-of-the-best-results-lists/
- Calendar Image. Retrieved from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/9317081@N06/3751989987/in/photolist
Stephanie Kinman: Military Development and Engagement Specialist
Please do not hesitate to email me if you wish to unsubscribe
Email: stephanie.kinman@ashford.edu
Website: http://www.ashford.edu/military/military_resources.htm
Location: 8620 Spectrum Center Blvd, San Diego, CA 92123, United States
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshfordMilitary