University of Michigan-Dearborn Student Vet Group Plans Scholarship Dinner

The University of Michigan-Dearborn Student Veterans Association is hosting a formal scholarship dinner for veterans at 6 PM on Nov. 10th, 2014.

The new scholarship will be paid for by proceeds from the dinner and will reward student veterans for continuing to serve in the community and advocate for veterans after they have finished their military careers.

“This dinner is going to be a blast,” said Brian Stone, president of the UM-Dearborn student veterans association. “We’ve got quite the guest list, too. Debbie Dingell’s going to be there, State Rep. George Darany and our keynote speaker is State Rep. David Knezek. But it’s not all fun and games: anyone who attends the event is going to wake up on Veterans Day and really know they did their part.”

The UM-Dearborn student veterans association is credited by the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News as having advocated for recent changes in University residency policies. The University of Michigan changed its residency policy in 2013 and currently all veterans receive in-state tuition rates at U of M. The University of Michigan-Dearborn followed that by hiring new staff, creating a new veterans service center and increasing services for veterans on campus.

“It’s not enough for us to just do well for ourselves, though,” said Jewell Jones, the student veterans association camaraderie officer. “Veterans are such a small part of society and we’ve taken an oversize burden. We can’t expect other people to know our issues and fight for us -- we have to advocate for ourselves. That’s what this scholarship is about,. It encourages veterans to serve again.”

State Rep. David Knezek, who is currently running for a seat in the Michigan state senate, is also being honored at the event. Knezek currently serves on the Michigan House of Representatives Committee on Military and Veteran Affairs, is an Iraq war veteran and a graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

“We feel David Knezek is a roadmap for other veterans to follow and that’s why we’re so proud to be able to honor him at this event,” said Stone. “We want to encourage veterans to continue sticking up for their rights and to serve the public long after they’ve left the service, but we can’t do that without the support of the community.”

The event will be held at the University of Michigan-Dearborn University Center, Kochoff Halls B & C, 4901 Evergreen Rd., Dearborn, MI 48128. The minimum donation for non-students is $30 per person to attend the dinner. Formal attire is requested. Interested persons are being encouraged by the Student Veterans Association to donate online.

Persons can donate to the scholarship fund online at https://leadersandbest.umich.edu/find/#/give/basket/fund/324718