Elkins – Members of the Davis & Elkins College chapter of Student Veterans of America (SVA) recently spent a day on the slopes at Canaan Valley Ski Resort providing comradery to a group of veterans and their families. The outing was a part of the Gathering of Mountain Eagles, a project the SVA has joined with for the past four years.
“Our students were terrific with the veterans and their spouses,” says Debbie Larkin, D&E veterans liaison officer and enrollment coordinator. “I am always proud to accompany our students and to be able to witness their positive interaction with others as they represent the College.”
A non-profit organization, Gathering of Mountain Eagles hosts various events throughout the year to offer wounded or injured American military service members and select family members an opportunity to enjoy the therapeutic effects of adventure activities in West Virginia and Virginia.
Students participating were freshman Sam Behrens of California, Md.; freshman Aubreigh Bledsoe of Barboursville, W.Va.; junior Anna Borofsky of Dailey, W.Va.; freshman Sarah Borofsky of Dailey, W.Va.; junior Alex Cheuvront of Parkersburg, W.Va.; senior Olivia Hudok of Huttonsville, W.Va.; sophomore Austin Jenner of Bunker Hill, W.Va.; senior Ashley Wilkins of Fairmont, W.Va.; and freshman Lee Wittekind of Marietta, Ohio. Also joining the group were Davis & Elkins alumnus Robert Tooze, ’12, a United States Marine Corps veteran, and Bledsoe’s father, Jeremy Bledsoe, a U.S. Army veteran and member of the West Virginia National Guard.
The bond between the two groups was exemplified in a ceremony after lunch at the Bear Paw Lounge. Forrest “Woody” Aurentz, executive director of Gathering of Mountain Eagles, recognized the Davis & Elkins SVA for their long time participation and support of the winter activity. Following tradition, the veterans presented the students with a GoME dog tag, and the students presented the veterans and their spouses with a D&E SVA Challenge Coin.
Larkin says the SVA plans to participate in the Gathering of Mountain Eagles for years to come.
The Davis & Elkins SVA offers student veterans an opportunity to interact with one another, participate as a group in College-sponsored events and join the efforts of community veterans organizations. The SVA maintains the paintball course on the College campus and group’s Color Guard provides a ceremonial unit for College functions.
In addition, Davis & Elkins has been designated as a Military Friendly School by Victory Media for six consecutive years. The honor is awarded to the top colleges, universities, community colleges and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students, and to dedicate resources to ensure their success both in the classroom and after graduation. Among the services the College offers are a veteran ID card, a beautifully restored Veterans Lounge in historic Halliehurst, and the Veterans Upward Bound program. For additional information on services for veterans at D&E, visit www.dewv.edu/campus-life/student-veterans.
Related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Davis & Elkins College is located in Elkins, 2 hours east of Charleston, 3 hours south of Pittsburgh and 4 hours west of Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit the College website at www.dewv.edu<http://www.dewv.edu> or call 304-637-1243.