News
Tennessee Tech celebrates Veterans Week 2023
Tech student and Air Force veteran Jacob Fondren will be among those celebrated by
the university during Veterans Week, occurring Nov. 6 - 10.
After serving four years of his Air Force career overseas, Jacob Fondren was ready
to be near his friends and family and ready to earn his bachelor’s degree.
The Cookeville native found his footing quickly at Tennessee Tech University as a
finance major and will be among the students celebrated by the university Nov. 6 -
10 with Veterans Week events, including a ceremony on the Main Quad at 11 a.m. on
Tuesday, Nov. 7.
“Transitioning from full-time service to being a full-time student was smoother than
I originally planned since I have been blessed with a fantastic support group of family
and close friends,” Fondren said. “The Office of Veterans Affairs has been my go-to
on campus and extremely helpful.”
The office will partner with units across Tech’s campus to host the annual Veterans
Week, which kicks off Monday, Nov. 6 with college-hosted celebrations that will allow
each college at Tech to spotlight their student veterans.
Tuesday’s ceremony will take place in front of the Jere Whitson building at 11 a.m.
The ceremony is open to the public and will feature Tech alumnus and retired Major
General Ed Dorman.
On Wednesday, Nov. 8, student veterans are invited to enjoy lunch in the Student Veterans
Center on the third floor of the Jere Whitson Building. Thursday, Nov. 9 will feature
a game of kickball between student veterans and Tech ROTC in Walton Park with a block
party to follow.
Classes will not meet on Tech’s campus on Friday, Nov. 10 and campus staff will wear
red to honor those who are currently deployed. Military-themed movies will be screened
throughout the day in the Veterans Center on the 3rd floor of Jere Whitson.
For Fondren and other student veterans at Tech, the week is a chance to come together
as the campus community celebrates them and all they contribute to the university
and their country.
“When I was on active duty, we had a career development class where I sat down with an advisor, and we talked about where I wanted to end up after my career in the military which ultimately led me to choose finance,” said Fondren, who still serves in the Air Force National Guard. “My experience at Tech has been great so far."
First held in 2018, Tennessee Tech's Veterans Week is now a much-anticipated annual event on campus. To learn more about these events and resources for student veterans at Tech, visit www.tntech.edu/veterans.
