Auburn’s College of Education continues strong support of veterans

An ongoing partnership between Auburn University’s College of Education and military veterans was on full display this past Saturday during Auburn’s military appreciation home football game. 

On the field at halftime, the College of Education’s Warrior Research Center in the School of Kinesiology was recognized among other university representatives for its strong support of the military. 

“We were deeply honored to be recognized during the Military Appreciation Game as one of the academic units conducting research to support and strengthen our military,” said JoEllen Sefton, professor and director of the Warrior Research Center.

Sefton was recognized along with Lt. Col. Todd Burkhardt (Ret.), who is the longest-standing member of the Warrior Research Center’s advisory board.

In addition to the center’s efforts, Auburn’s College of Education also became the first official academic partner of Auburn’s Veterans Resource Center (AVRC) just this past year. 

“The College of Education always welcomes the opportunity to help support the AVRC and ASVA (Auburn Student Veterans Association) on campus and off campus as we try to live up to the Auburn Creed when it states ‘I believe in my country because it is a land of freedom,’” said College of Education Student Services Coordinator David Shamp. “And we are always eager to help support those who have served and continue to support this country and our freedoms.”

In the past year, the college has collaborated with the AVRC by offering Lunch and Learn events that have featured Jeffrey Fairbrother, dean of the College of Education and Wayne T. Smith Distinguished Professor, as well as Assistant Clinical Professor Margie Taylor, involving the topic of mental health counseling as the college continues building a bond between the AVRC and the college’s Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation and Counseling. Most recently, the college also supported the Patriots on the Plains Picnic during military appreciation week in the leadup to this past Saturday’s military appreciation football game. 

“The Veterans Resource Center proudly serves over 1,800 military-affiliated students on Auburn's campus,” said Mike Smith, a representative of the AVRC. “Our partnership with the College of Education is essential in providing the resources and support these students need to thrive. Together, we’ve cultivated a strong community that fosters engagement and creates an environment where military-affiliated students can achieve their full potential.”

And that directly benefits the College of Education as well, with it having 127 military-affiliated students among its enrollment, according to the AVRC. Shamp added that numerous members of the College of Education are also involved in the Veterans Employee Resource Group (VERG) — the second such group on campus created to provide support specifically for employees who are veterans or affiliated with veterans.

The college’s strong partnership is perhaps most visibly seen through its support of the annual Operation Iron Ruck event, with participants training with the School of Kinesiology’s Warrior Research Center. Kinesiology students are also on hand for the event to support participants throughout the 151-mile ruck. The event is hosted by the Auburn Student Veterans Association (ASVA) and the University of Alabama Campus Veterans Association (CVA) to raise awareness and funds for veteran suicide prevention.

This year, Operation Iron Ruck has a fundraising goal of $50,000, and it will begin at Auburn’s campus and trek all the way to Tuscaloosa in the leadup to the Iron Bowl on Nov. 30.