Westborough Woman Honored for Military Service

Kara Vautour of Westborough was among those honored recently during a special ceremony at American International College (AIC) in Springfield. The 2011 Admiral Hines Alumni Veterans Ribbon ceremony was held to honor graduating AIC seniors who have served or are currently serving in the military.

Vautour spent the last few years in a challenging position in the Air Force Reserve while accomplishing a rigorous curriculum in occupational therapy.

As a member of the 439th Aeromedical Staging Squadron at Westover Air Reserve Base, she has been deployed twice. From January through May 2008, she was deployed to Balad, Iraq, as part of 336th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility (CASF). From May through November 2010, Vautour served at the Ramstien Air Force Base, Germany, 86th CASF.

She is an Aerospace Medical Technician and was recently promoted to E-6 Technical Sergeant. 

Vautour is graduating from American International College with a Master's Degree is Occupational Therapy on May 22. 

Diane Furtek, director of the AIC Veterans' Resource Center, said the event is a way to thank the veterans for their service to the country, and to congratulate them on their academic success.

"The college has been very active in providing a variety of campus services for returning veterans, and having community representatives available to discuss resources such as health care, career development, academic assistance, financial aid, personal wellness, the GI Bill, disability support and more. We want veterans to feel at home here at AIC," she said.

Information courtesy of the American International College.