February 11, 2008

Media Advisory – Veterans Luncheon

Southern Illinois University Carbondale will give veterans a warm welcome home on Wednesday, Feb. 13. SIUC Disability Support Services will host a luncheon to show appreciation to veterans who are students, faculty and staff for their service at 11:30 a.m. in the Old Main restaurant in the Student Center. Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to attend the event.

The luncheon will also serve to connect veterans with volunteer mentors as part of SIUC's Transition Program for Veterans with Service-Related Injuries, which strives to help injured veterans make a successful transition from the battlefield to a university.

Speakers will include Kathleen Plesko, director of Disability Support Services; Josh Geltz, a student and veteran of the Iraq war; and representatives from each branch of the military. SIUC Chancellor Fernando M. Treviño, Illinois Board of Higher Education member Lucy Sloan and other SIUC dignitaries will also be in attendance.