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Insight Kids of NEPA provides opportunities for socialization, recreation, education, to blind and visually impaired youngsters

To our health: Luzerne County avoids the lowest ranking in the state

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; It was a proud moment for Alex Magee.</p><p>The 31-year-old senior biology major at Wilkes University stood quietly in the back of the room as university officials spoke at a ceremony dedicating the new Veterans Center of Excellence on campus &#8212; a permanent home for the program Magee co-founded in 2012.</p><p>The new center on the lower level of Conyngham Hall offers a gathering place and one-stop access to a variety of services for veterans attending Wilkes. There are currently about 55 veterans enrolled at Wilkes.</p><p>But to student/veterans like Magee, the center is a vital part of transition into society and college life.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a camaraderie thing,&#8221; said Magee, of Mountain Top. &#8220;It&#8217;s a place where veterans can hang out, talk, study and relax. Veterans know where each other is coming from and we wanted to create a space where they could get support.&#8221;</p><p>Magee said it&#8217;s difficult for veterans to adjust to life after the military. And, he said, students who have no military experience sometimes have difficulty in relating to veterans. He said the center provides a place for veterans to support each other, while also allowing non-military students to interact with the veterans and gain a better understanding of where they&#8217;ve come from and what they&#8217;ve been through.</p><p>&#8220;Yes, there can be a lack of understanding on both sides,&#8221; Magee said. &#8220;The center offers a mechanism where veterans and non-veterans can reach a better level of understanding. We (veterans) come from a completely different lifestyle than most college students.&#8221;</p><p>As Magee looked around the new center, he couldn&#8217;t help but smile.</p><p>&#8220;My little club is all grown up now,&#8221; he said. &#8220;This is completely awesome.&#8221;</p><p>Wilkes&#8217; Veterans Council was awarded a $10,000 grant from the VetCenter Initiative grant program, a partnership between Student Veterans of America and The Home Depot Foundation to create the center. A space was renovated in Conyngham Hall with assistance from the university&#8217;s facilities staff. Veterans Council members painted the center themselves.</p><p>The center will provide a single point of contact to coordinate support services for students who are military veterans. The services offered in the center include a private computer room, lounge, kitchen and a peer mentoring/professional room. Tutoring for mathematics and academic writing is also offered.</p><p>Wilkes will also provide workshops such as mock job interviews and resume review leading up to the Veterans Expo and Career Fair set for April 23 for all veterans in the community. Information about resources on- and off-campus is available at the center.</p><p>Wilkes President Patrick F. Leahy said the university has been recognized as a Military Friendly School for six consecutive years by G.I. Jobs magazine. The military-friendly designation is given to the top 15 percent of colleges and universities with programs for veterans.</p><p>Leahy commended Wilkes veterans counselor Lt. Col. Mark Kaster, who also teaches environmental sciences and engineering at the school.</p><p>&#8220;Nobody cares more about our returning veterans than Col. Kaster,&#8221; Leahy said.</p><p>Also participating in the dedication were Veterans Council president and vice president Kellie Palko and Kelly Egan, Caitlin Czeh, Kyle Becher and Joe Novack, representing Home Depot.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Wilkes-Vets-Center-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wilkes University Veterans Counselor Lt. Col. Mark Kaster (Ret.) thanks all parties involved in creating the new Veterans Center of Excellence located in the basement of Conyngham Hall. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Wilkes-Vets-Center-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wilkes University Veterans Counselor Lt. Col. Mark Kaster (Ret.) thanks all parties involved in creating the new Veterans Center of Excellence located in the basement of Conyngham Hall. </caption0><photoCredit0>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Wilkes-Vets-Center-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The new game room at the Wilkes University Veterans Center of Excellence provides student/veterans access to a computer room, conference room, kitchenette, as well as a game room. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Wilkes-Vets-Center-3.jpg</photo1><caption1>The new game room at the Wilkes University Veterans Center of Excellence provides student/veterans access to a computer room, conference room, kitchenette, as well as a game room. </caption1><photoCredit1>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Wilkes-Vets-Center-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Joe Novack, left, presents a plaque on behalf of Home Depot to Wilkes University President Dr. Patrick Leahy. Home Depot donated materials for the project. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Wilkes-Vets-Center-2.jpg</photo2><caption2>Joe Novack, left, presents a plaque on behalf of Home Depot to Wilkes University President Dr. Patrick Leahy. Home Depot donated materials for the project. </caption2><photoCredit2>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

New Veterans Center at Wilkes University will allow student veterans to support each other