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The Office of Veteran & Military Student Services at the ��˾�������� celebrated the grand opening of a new student center in Agnes Edwards Hall during Veterans Week.

The space, featuring a pool table, kitchenette and adjacent computer lab, provides support services for more than 600 veterans and military-connected students at UL ��˾��������.

For Stacey Thomas, a 55-year-old U.S. Army veteran and vice president of the Student Veteran Organization, the center has already become a place on campus where he’s found friends who feel like family.

“For some of us who are veterans — the older ones like myself —  it kind of harkens back to the USO organizations that used to be in the airports,” said Thomas, a senior psychology major. “When you’re in between flights, going to whatever parts unknown and feeling kind of lonely, it’s someplace where you could just go and sit and maybe play a game of pool or have a snack.”

Dr. DeWayne Bowie, the University’s vice president for Enrollment Management, said the vision for this expanded center came directly from veteran and military-connected students. For them, the lounge atmosphere was especially important.

“They wanted a space where they could come together and have conversations with folks who had similar backgrounds and similar interests, and that's what this space is for them,” said Bowie.

The center supports an extension of the networking these students experienced during their military service, said Ryan Gonzales, assistant director of Veteran & Military Student Services. He said the space was designed to enable students to continue to build those important connections and friendships on campus.

“To see (the center) finally come to fruition is a really good feeling,” he added.

Danielle Doucet, director of Veteran & Military Student Services, emphasized that even though there are plenty of websites and printed materials available to provide advice for military students, “their best resource is each other.” Doucet has organized regular coffee hours and invited alumni to speak to current students to share their advice.

“It can be hard because some of them are working through deployments,” said Doucet. “When they get those orders, they don't know if it's for a week or if it's for a month, so that's something else they have to juggle on top of school.”

She said the Office of Veteran & Military Student Services originated to ensure students received their G.I. benefits. The office continues to fulfill this role but, over time, it’s become much more.

She said the center represents, “this University's deep appreciation for our military and how we want them to succeed.”

Visit the new Veteran & Military Student Center in room M-160 in Agnes Edwards Hall. For more information about the Office of Veteran & Military Student Services, go to Louisiana.edu/veterans.

Photo caption: Dr. DeWayne Bowie, vice president for Enrollment Management; Ryan Gonzales, assistant director of Veteran & Military Student Services; and Danielle Doucet, director of Veteran & Military Student Services, celebrate the center’s official opening. Photo credit: Paul Kieu / ��˾��������