1-14-2020 Goodwill Industries of Lane and South Coast Counties has donated $12,000 to Peer Advisors for Veteran Education (PAVE), a UO student veteran support program. The contribution reflects ongoing collaboration between Goodwill and the university.
“This generous gift from Goodwill represents the latest step in our partnership to help student veterans,” said Maria Kalnbach, the UO’s Coordinator for Nontraditional and Veteran Student Engagement and Success.
“Our shared goal is helping veterans navigate college life and succeed—while they’re UO students and after they graduate. We’re very grateful for Goodwill’s support, and I’m excited to see the impact of this investment on our student veterans and the university.”
PAVE connects new student veterans with peers who have more experience in college These advisors answer questions, share information about resources, and help the newer students navigate college life.
“We are proud to support the UO PAVE program with our charitable contribution, which will provide the staffing needed to support our nation’s student veterans as they transition to civilian life,” said Jim Martin, President and CEO for Goodwill. “Our mission at Goodwill is to provide vocational opportunities to individuals with barriers to employment and this mission extends to veterans and their families in our community.”
Veterans are automatically enrolled in PAVE when they start at the UO. Some of their most pressing questions involve housing, tuition, and veterans’ benefits. Peer advisors also help smooth the transition to college by helping out in many small, but important, ways.
That could mean the best time to go to the Rec Center, tips for meeting course requirements, or free coffee and printing at the Student Veterans Center, said Kalnbach. However, the most important benefit for these students, she said, is knowing they’re part of a community and someone is looking out for them.
—Ed Dorsch, BA ’94, MA ’99