Activities to Honor Veterans Planned at Iowa Lakes Community College
(Emmetsburg, Iowa) In honor of veterans throughout the region, Iowa Lakes Community College student leaders are organizing special events as Veterans Day approaches. All events will take place on Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, 2019.
“All five campuses will be very involved in showing gratitude to our past and present veterans,” said Kent Schmidt, Veterans Liaison and member of the college’s veterans committee.
All campuses have decided to display ‘Honor Trees.’ Multi-colored ribbons are placed near the Honor Trees and signs next to the trees encouraging students, staff and faculty to tie various colored ribbons to the trees to recognize those who have served, as well as those currently serving in the U.S. military.
In Emmetsburg, students will have a ceremony at 11:00 am in the Dining Services area, through Entrance 3. Maggie Jackson, Kyley Anderson, and Hannah Seil will sing the national anthem. Student veterans are welcome to attend a lunch following the event, paid for by the student senate. In addition, Emmetsburg student senators reach out to the community by donating money for a wreath to grace the Veterans Memorial in downtown Emmetsburg and by taking donations for veterans to participate in the honor flights going to Washington DC.
Iowa Lakes students are encouraged to write essays regarding their favorite veteran or about what Veterans Day means to them. Buena Vista University will award a book store gift card to the winner of the contest.
In Estherville, student senators are hosting a free meal over the lunch hour on for Laker Veterans (students, faculty and staff). The meal will follow a recognition ceremony with patriotic music provided by the Iowa Lakes Music Department slated for 12:30 pm in the atrium of the Estherville campus.
In Algona, students will sign “Thank you for your Service” printed cards to be handed out at the annual Hy-Vee Veterans Breakfast located at the Algona Hy-Vee.
In Spencer, at 10:45 a.m., student senators plan to have a patriotic balloon send-off along with a formal ceremony and the Spirit Lake campus will have a patriotic display that includes essays from students honoring veterans.
“Iowa Lakes Community College prides itself in showing respect for all our veterans and has garnered many awards for their efforts,” said Schmidt.
Iowa Lakes has received the following awards; U.S. Veterans Magazine “Best of the Best” award, for the past four years, “Military Friendly” status from Victory Media for the past seven years, and is currently ranked 1st ahead of all community colleges in Iowa for the services provided to veterans.
Additionally, Iowa Lakes is a Certified Higher Academic Military Partner (CHAMP) and was formally recognized in 2019 as the public sector state nominee for the prestigious national-level Employer Support of Guard and Reserve Freedom Award.
Iowa Lakes works with the chamber and economic developers in all five counties as part of the Home Base Iowa effort. In-state tuition is provided to military veterans and several institutional and veteran service organization scholarships have been established specifically for military families to help pay for college costs.
For More Information:
Kent Schmidt, Veterans Liaison, at 712-852-5284
