Army Sgt. First Class Edwina Evans has eagerly taken the reins of the presidency of the Columbia Southern University Student Veterans Association (CSUSVA).
Evans, who is a graduate of Columbia Southern University, plans to take the one-year-old CSUSVA to the next level.
Edwina Evans
“I want to increase membership as well as educate all members, and others who would like to join, about the organization,” Evans said.
CSUSVA was established to provide centralized easy-to-use services that address a full range of needs: financial aid, VA benefits, academic support, disability services, employment assistance, social networking and references to Veteran Service Organizations.
CSUSVA is just one student veterans group out of a coalition of more than 323 Student Veterans of America chapters across the United States. According to the national SVA website, member chapters are student groups formed on college and university campuses to provide peer-to-peer networks for veterans who are attending those schools.
This relates to Evans’ goal of pushing members to be mentors. “I just want members to do their part in helping each other out with questions and concerns. Most importantly, let’s come together as one team and help each other accomplish our goals,” she said.
Evans’ also plans to lead the group in establishing a chapter scholarship, increasing graduation rates among veterans via mentoring, encouraging members to join national SVA, set up a hotline for veterans having difficulty transitioning into college and hold an annual time when chapter members visit a local VA hospital.
In fact, Evans is planning to conduct a visit from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Nov. 5 at a VA hospital in Biloxi, Miss.
“So many of them have family members that will not visit, and some have no family members at all,” explained Evans, who said. “Just seeing their faces light up because a stranger took time out of their schedule to come visit is very heart-warming.”
She invites any CSUSVA members or veterans who interested to please join them. You can contact her at SVA.President@columbiasouthern.edu
“My priority as president is promoting the importance of education to veterans and active-duty military and if you see it, you can achieve it at any age. My slogan will be ‘Yes, you can, one class at a time.’ ‘
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