Harrisburg University students and alumni come from many walks of life and numerous clubs and organizations exist to help serve their individualized needs and interests.
One of the University’s newest groups is the Alumni Service Council, established to give back to veteran and active military alumni and students.
“The council was established as a way to give back to fellow alumni veterans and active-duty service members,” said GeneCarlo Veno, HU Director of Alumni Relations. “For members of the council, this is their passion – helping others. Whether it is by providing information about (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) home and school loans and many other benefits and resources that are available to veterans and active-duty service members, the council is there to help.”
The five-member council possesses a wide range of knowledge and history working with the VA, and the group wants to share their information and experiences with students and other alumni, said Phil Manders, a council member. Other council members include Binay Luitel, Carrie Carpenter, Jeffrey Oakley, and Michael Slenker Sr.
Manders, who graduated from HU with a bachelor’s degree in Computer and Information Sciences in 2019, said anyone interested in military benefits is welcome to reach out to the council. Also, the council hopes to help all interested in the military who may have questions about service life or adjusting to civilian life.
“The hope is to help those that continue to serve the country. We know what our brothers and sisters gave to miss the conventional college lifestyle,” Manders said. “It’s also there to help those from HU that want to join or at least want information about joining as an officer or even are enlisted.”
“This council will not only provide a first-hand experience that staff at the University may not be familiar with, but it will also help with the adjustment veterans face while re-entering the community following service,” Manders added. “We all know STEM graduates are sought after in the job market. We want to help bring more veterans to HU to help improve their futures. Some veterans and active-duty student may see the majors at HU as daunting. And we are here to help in any way we can.”
Anyone interested in contacting the Alumni Service Council is encouraged to reach out to Manders at philmanders15@gmail.com or Veno at gveno@HarrisburgU.edu.
ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Harrisburg University is a private nonprofit university offering bachelor and graduate degree programs in science, technology, and math fields. For more information on the University’s affordable demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, call 717-901-5146 or email, Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Follow on Twitter (@HarrisburgU) and Facebook (Facebook.com/HarrisburgU).
