Surveys Recognize Evergreen’s Commitment to Veterans

Evergreen Ranks Well in Two Recent Surveys Focused on Veterans and the Military Community

Evergreen ranked 47 among four-year schools recognized as “Best for Vets” by Military Times.

The 2013 survey of some 650 schools documents widespread efforts by schools to welcome veterans and active duty service members. Recognizing the work of the college’s office of Veterans Affairs and participation in tuition programs and activities that welcome veterans, Evergreen, along with Olympic College in Bremerton, was only one of two in the top 50 ranked.

This comes on top of inclusion in the 2013 Guide to Military Friendly Schools published by G.I. Jobs. Evergreen was recommended for this list based on student reviews and measures of financial and institutional support, flexibility, and degree options offered. The Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools which are doing the most to embrace America’s veterans and military community and to ensure their success.

Evergreen has been included in the Military Friendly Schools guide continuously since 2011.

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Evergreen’s Annual Roll Call Remembers Fallen U.S. Service Members

The Readers Project: Honoring the Fallen

On May 24th, 2012, The Evergreen State College invited the community to its second annual memorial in honor of the U.S. military men and women of all races, faiths and nationalities who have died while serving in the Global War on Terror. Community members recited the names of the 422 servicemen and women who had been killed between May 1, 2011 and April 30, 2012. Readers included Evergreen students, staff, and faculty, veterans, and active-duty representatives from Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Naval Base Kitsap. In addition to the twelve month casualty roll call, the complete roster of U.S. military fatalities in the Global War on Terror was available for viewing along with data on coalition forces losses, civilian casualties, and war refugee data in the College’s library lobby from May 24 through June 15.

The College held the first Readers Project memorial on May 26, 2011, when the college invited members of the community to recite the names of the 6,058 U.S. service members who had been officially identified up to that point in time as fatalities in the various campaigns of the Global War on Terror. The memorial lasted ten hours and involved 42 readers.

Reflecting on the 2011 memorial, Evergreen faculty member Sylvie McGee remarked, “I want to remember that the moment before, these young people were full of life – loving their families, grooving to their tunes, sending emails to their girlfriends/boyfriends, and I hope believing that they would be home soon. We have to grieve, but also to celebrate the lives our fallen warriors had and lived with vigor. “

In 2012, the program was expanded to include a musical introduction and closing. Rona Yellowrobe Walsh performed a medley on wooden flute that included a Native American honor song and Taps to mark the conclusion of the reading. The College will hold the memorial again on May 22, 2013, to recite the names of the casualties of the prior twelve months.

The observance is organized by The Veterans of Evergreen Transition and Success Team (VETS) to provide the community an opportunity to recognize the fallen service members and contemplate the profound sacrifices that military families and communities throughout the nation are continuing to make.