PVCC Celebrates Student Veterans

Deadra Miller, staff writer

Missions for Military (M2) gave student veterans appreciation. Two PVCC students Erin Sonnenburg and Brianna (Bri) Wayne started this club just a year ago wanting to support the Veterans of PVCC. Under the advisement of Jackie Fisher, both students said “Thank You” to student and staff veterans.

This year was the first Veterans Day celebration they have put together. With the help of  Air Force Cadets that attend PVCC who also attend UVA for ROTC, helped with games like corn hole, a tire flipping and pushup contests were properly taken care of. There were great prizes for the top performers in the events that included gift certificates and patriotic items to show off.

The panel of service members included Petty Officer 2nd Class Nestor Serrano (Navy), Staff Sgt. Branson Hernandez (Air Force), Lance Cpl. Devon Paxton (Marine Corps), and Cpl. Deadra (Selzer)  Miller (Marine Corps). These veterans were asked questions about their time in service and about transitioning back to civilian life by Jackie Fisher and audience members. There were also questions about how time served in the military benefits or hinders their college education.

Sonnenburg and Wayne decorated the Bolick Student Center in red, white and blue to symbolize the commitment that the veterans put before their own lives.

M2 coordinated this event to bring awareness that the military needs support and to expand the club with new hopefuls and insights. Sonnenburg and Wayne did all of this with the bare necessities. Sonnenburg said, “We do this because we want to.”

For more information on joining or helping M2 with future events, please stop by room M132 E and speak to Jackie Fisher who is the faculty advisor for M2.

M2 is also  looking for new members and support to send packages to service members over seas.

The author of this piece was chosen to be on the veteran panel for this event.