WNCC Celebrates Veterans

Military service is one of the highest callings in humanity. It requires a person to accept assignments they don't always have control over, with the possibility of a soldier giving the ultimate sacrifice.

Friday, Western Nebraska Community College in Sidney honored veterans among its staff and students. The honor was presented during the college's fall holiday dinner. After students and staff had their share, and then some, of ham and chicken, potatoes, vegetables and an endless array of desserts, students were welcomed by Campus Director Paula Abbott. In her opening remarks, Abbott said regardless of the label on the dinner, or the time of the season, the event is still about being thankful.

Thankfulness should especially be expressed to veterans who dedicated their lives to service to the country. She then introduced Chris Wolf, assistant director of the local Veterans Upward Bound program.

"I am so lucky to be able to work with the veterans," Wolf said.

She said 2019 marks 20 years the Veterans Upward Bound Program has been in service. Veterans Upward Bound is designed to motivate and assist veterans in development of academic and necessary skills for acceptance and success in a postsecondary education program, according to the U.S. Department of Education website.

WNCC is also recognized for the ninth consecutive year to be in the top 33 of two-year colleges to be named "Best for Vets."

Numerous veterans were honored from several branches of service. Six of the 13 honored were present for the holiday lunch.

Included in the awards were Quinn Lund, currently in the U.S. Army Reserves, and Wolf.

Each has a unique story, but meeting at the campus of WNCC Sidney brought these two stories together. Lund was living in Lincoln, attending the University of Lincoln, at that point in college when he still wasn't sure where the future was taking him. He has a long interest in the army, so when he saw an opportunity, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves.

He was sent to Fort Sill, Ok, then to Fort Leonard Wood. After completing his training, he returned to Nebraska where drills are done in Lincoln once each month. He will have completed seven years in February.

He calls Sidney home, so when he got an opportunity to return he took it. He is now working to complete his associate degree in business.

"There is so much opportunity for funding, for help. There's so much incentive," Lund said.

He said the military's Tuition Assistance Program has been a big assistance in his schooling. He is four classes from finishing his associate's degree, which then will help him finish the 27 credits he needs for his bachelor's degree. With the WNCC associate's degree, he can transfer to any college in the state.

One of the programs assisting veterans is a memorial scholarship. It is a way for a family who lost their son in combat to keep looking forward and help other veterans.

Kris Wolf and her husband lost their son to an IED while serving in Iraq. He was doing what he loved, she says, helping improve conditions for the people of northern Iraq.

"We take comfort in knowing that James was doing what he loved," she says.

He committed to the Delayed Entry Program his junior year of high school, needing his mother's signature to complete the commitment. He was still at the point of deciding if he wanted a military career or return to civilian life when an explosive claimed his life.

The scholarship is to assist other veterans in college.

She says her work with the Upward Bound program is a blessing.

"I really feel lucky I found this program," she said.

She says she is known as the college mom, giving students a hug when the need it, and "a kick in the butt" when they need it.