Veterans Center manger S. Rhonda Osagie-Erese

The Veterans Center at Lakeland Community College held their annual Veterans Day Ceremony, Tuesday, Nov. 7. The theme for this year’s ceremony was “HERstory,” focusing on the contributions of women in the military and commemorating the 75-year anniversary of women serving in the military.

"We take this opportunity to honor the women who have bravely served our country for the past 75 years," said S. Rhonda Osagie-Erese, veterans center manager. "Their service demonstrates the vital role of women in the armed forces. We are proud to celebrate their achievements."

Guest speaker Vikki Klingenberg, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and owner of SoleNatural Wellness, shared three lessons that she learned from her deployment that she carries with her in her everyday life.

“I truly love the Marine Corps, I love being a female veteran,” Klingenberg shared. “I learned on my deployment that you need to figure out what fuels you, what makes you who you are. The second thing I learned was breaking down a big situation into smaller tasks so that it’s manageable. When you get a yearlong deployment, that’s a long time. If you manage that day by day, week by week, then before you know it the months are going by…. The third lesson I learned was surrounding yourself with the right people. Not every day on deployment is fun, but surrounding yourself with positive uplifting people who are going to support you and make you a better person.”

The annual ceremony was coupled with a ribbon cutting and dedication of the new veterans center on Lakeland’s campus. The center moved to a newly renovated location this semester, on the second floor of the student center.

The new veterans center is more centrally located on campus and is home to offices, conference space, a computer center, a co-shared activity center and lounge area. The project team consisted of local Lake County businesses including: TDA, Marous Brothers Construction, Tec Inc. Engineering and Design and CT Consultants.

“This new space will help us to better serve our veteran and military-connected students,” shared Osagie-Erese. “Being more centrally located on campus is very exciting. It will allow for more collaboration with the other student groups and more opportunities to make connections.”

During the ribbon cutting ceremony, Doug Richardson vice president of operations at Marous Brothers Construction and U.S. Army Veteran, shared his experience of transitioning into civilian life after his service in the military.

“For many veterans, the most difficult adjustment after separation from the service is a profound loss of purpose and identity. Now I realize the value and the necessity for corporations, institutions of higher learning like [Lakeland] and other organizations in the private sector to provide platforms to accommodate reintegration into civilian life,” Richardson explained. “I also consider it a social responsibility and a way to express our thanks for their service. I commend the college for its efforts on campus to create a culture of support and inclusion for veterans and their families by providing services to support that smooth transition.”

Funding for the veterans center relocation project was provided by college local funds and donor contributions, including a $100,000 gift from The Lakeland Foundation.

“The Foundation is proud to support the veterans center and the work being done for our veteran and military-connected students,” said Lakeland Foundation board chair Jon Snyder. “The Foundation’s role is to enhance support, resources and opportunities available to Lakeland students. We understand our student veterans face unique challenges and the services the veterans center provides are instrumental in their success.”

The Veterans Center at Lakeland Community College serves over 250 veterans and their families each year. The college is designated as a Military Friendly® school and is a recipient of the Collegiate Purple Star Award from the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Lakeland also hosts an award-winning chapter of Student Veterans of America (SVA).?The Lakeland SVA is a student organization that supports student veterans and military family members. Visit lakelandcc.edu/veterans to learn more.

By: Kerry Ann Jonke, Asst Director Market & Communi