Livermore to Honor Women Veterans

LIVERMORE, CA - Women veterans will be honored at Las Positas College later this month.

The Veterans First program will feature Air Force veteran Dr. Holly Franz and combat Army veteran Melissa Margain, as well as a female student veteran panel discussion for its fourth annual "Honoring Women Veterans" Women's History Month panel presentation from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 24 in the College's Little Theater in Building 800.

The event is free and open to the public. Parking is $2.

A complimentary lunch will provided to those who attend the event.

"We are proud to honor the special contributions made by women in the military by presenting this event during Women's History Month," said Veterans First Coordinator,Todd Steffan. "We are very pleased to feature such highly respected speakers who have many powerful stories to share. We know that people will be interested in hearing from these speakers and listening to the panel discussion featuring female student veterans from different branches," Steffan said.Presenters

Dr. Holly Franz is a 24-year veteran of the United States Air Force. She entered the Air Force after attending the US Air Force Academy in the fourth class that included women. During her career in the USAF she worked in space operations and biological defense. After retiring from the Air Force she joined Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in 2007, where she currently specializes in working on biodefense issues.

Melissa Margain is a Disabled Combat Veteran who served 10 years active duty in the United States Army as a Dental Specialist. In 2009 Melissa was deployed to Balad, Iraq where she served as the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the Balad Dental Clinic's Dental Lab and Radiology department. Melissa was medically discharged from Active Duty after sustaining injuries cause by a mortar attack during her deployment. Since the end of her military career she has managed to stay positive and engaged, studying Cognitive Science at American Military University. She currently serves as a Field Representative for District III County Supervisor Mary Piepho in Contra Costa County.

More than 500 veterans or active duty military personnel were enrolled at Las Positas College this past academic year.

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