ASU VUB Newsletter - 2009 Winter

RIBBONS veterans upward bound Newsletter

Student Highlight: Alfredo Estrella

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y name is Alfredo Daniel Estrella. I was born to Daphne and Daniel Estrella in Phoenix, on Dec. 10, 1984. I am the oldest of three children who grew up in an environment plagued with drugs and gang violence. My mother did the best job she could in raising us after my father passed away.

I graduated from Maryvale High School in 2003 where I took pride in being a member of the JROTC and the National Honor Society. I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on May 27, 2003, and began my tour of duty at Camp Pendleton in California. I received specialized training as a Transportation Specialist and was deployed to the Al Anbar Province of Iraq in 2004-2005 with the Combat Service Support Group (CSSG). I was deployed again in Feb. 2006 - March 2007 with the 1st Marine Logistic Group (1st MLG) to Al-Asad, Iraq. My primary responsibility during this tour was to transport military cargo

throughout the Al Anbar Province and Western Iraq, which included the Syrian border. I received an Honorable Discharge from active duty on May 27, 2007.

In March 2008, I joined the Marine Reserves in Phoenix. I am currently assigned to the Bulk Fuel, Company C (Charlie Company), where I serve as the 1st Platoon Sergeant. In addition to my military reserve duties, I am employed by the Murphy School District in Phoenix as a school bus driver and work as a youth coach for the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department. I have also started a wellness and fitness program for the kids I work with.

I am currently enrolled in the Veterans Upward Bound Program at ASU gaining the primary knowledge and skills necessary in math, English and basic computers to be successful in my college level courses. My goal is to become a high school teacher or own my own auto-body shop.

in this issue 01 Student Highlight 01 A Message from the Director 02 VA Buzz 02 VVA Scholarship Recipient 02 CASSLodestar & VUB 02 VUB Current Workstudy 03 Staff 03 Days to remember

My hobbies include: working on cars, listening to Hip-Hop music, visiting art galleries, and coaching young kids in soccer and basketball. I give a special thanks to my instructors and the entire VUB staff who have been instrumental in preparing me to reach my educational and personal goals.

A Message from the Director

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he educational process does more than provide us with a certificate or diploma. The real worth of a post-secondary education comes from the realization that the changes we will encounter have the potential to provide us with opportunities never previously perceived or deemed possible.

Besides gaining us access to career goals and enhancing our capacity to earn a greater income, the educational process provides all students with the opportunity to experience the type of changes that can be both rewarding and enlightening.

Some of these changes include the following: • Through greater awareness we are able to enhance our capacity to perceive and understand new ideas, concepts, opinions, and views.

• Through the process of reflection we are able to establish a new sense of self-awareness that provides us with insights as to our abilities

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and aptitudes. This expanded self-awareness allows us to appreciate newly discovered skills and capacities we didn’t know we had.

• We have all heard the saying that no man (or woman) is an island. We simply do not go through life acting and reacting on our own.

Through this insight we come to appreciate that the reliance we learned and developed in the military is one and the same as the reliance we apply to our educational goals and objectives.

• In order to grow and succeed in the military we were required to learn new ways of doing things. The same can be said of our efforts to reach new and fulfilling educational levels.

We must expand our study habits and our approach to learning that will allow us to reach educational levels that are new and sometimes unsheltered.

• Miguel Cervantes once reminded us that, “The road is better than the inn”. It is quite common for students to explore and discover newfound interests and passions that require us to rethink our goals and objectives. That’s the beauty of discovery, not to be shunned or ignored.

The pursuit of a post-secondary education can be intimidating, challenging, and frustrating. If it were not, everyone would have a post-secondary degree or certificate. As we learn, we change.

“The price of change is measured by our will, our courage, and our persistence in the face of difficulty” – Peter Block, business philosopher.

Sincerely, Robert Mena

VA Buzz

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he Arizona Veterans Program Association (AVPA) is a non-profit organization made up of colleges and universities throughout Arizona.

The mission of the Association is to promote opportunities for student veterans in higher education and to provide support in their pursuit of individual and civic growth.

AVPA provides assistance to veterans and their dependents eligible to receive Montgomery G.I. Bill educational benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

One of the many ways AVPA is able to do the things it does for veterans is by providing scholarships to deserving eligible veterans. Currently, AVPA is looking to raise funds for these scholarships. The annual event info is as follows:

4th Annual “We Support Our Troops” 5K Run Proceeds will benefit the AVPA Rich Wade Memorial Scholarship • When: Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010 at 8 a.m.

• Where: Horse Lovers’ Park at Reach 11 Recreation Area on Tatum Blvd, just South of the Loop 101 freeway.

Ways you can help support this event • Post event flyer on school web links and in community news events.

• Recruit others to run/ walk or volunteer.

• Solicit donations. (donations are tax deductible) • Donate items for runners’ free gift prize give away.

• Volunteer on Race Day, the 5K Planning Committee, or the Rich Wade Scholarship.

Committee.

For more information about the scholarships or helping with the event please contact this office.

VA is working diligently to reduce the backlog of claims. Temporary education claims processing sites are being set up at several Regional Offices around the country, including Phoenix. Thirty employees began training at the Phoenix RO on Nov. 9, and they are expected to be ready to assist with processing by Nov. 16.

would like to track the backlog status yourself, click on this link: www.vba.va.gov/REPORTS/mmwr/index.asp Veterans who have applied for one of VA’s education programs (Ch. 30, 32, 33, 1606 or 1607) and have not yet received a monthly payment for the 2009 fall term can request a one-time advance payment of up to $3,000.

This money will be recouped from future benefit payments. Dependents (Ch. 35 and Transfer of Entitlement cases) are not eligible for the special payment. Checks are being issued at all VA Regional Offices. The Phoenix RO is located at 3333 N. Central Ave, and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Veteran students should bring proof of enrollment (class schedule, enrollment verification letter, etc.) and a government-issued photo ID. Veterans may also request the advance payment through VA’s website, www.va.gov.

As of Nov. 16, the VA is reporting a backlog of approximately 64,000 claims still pending with a total of all claims still pending over 200,000. If you

VVA Scholarship Recipient

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he instructors and staff at the Veterans Upward Bound Program located on the main campus of Arizona State University are in full agreement that Mr. Tie Ginn be the recipient of the Mesa Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America Scholarship Award for the Fall 2009 academic semester. Mr. Ginn, who recently graduated from the Veterans Upward Bound Program, is a highly motivated individual both in his academic endeavors as well as in his personal life which is exhibited in his willingness to serve those throughout the community. While attending regular classes in the VUB program, Mr. Ginn was extremely inquisitive and eager to learn new concepts. He never adopted

the “I can’t do this” attitude, but rather welcomed any challenge he was faced with. In addition to learning concepts and tasks at an accelerated rate, Mr. Ginn, on many occasions took the lead in helping his classmates and peers develop a better understanding of different subject matter. This is a characteristic that easily identifies him as a leader among his peers, the VUB staff and those who come in contact with him.

Mr. Ginn is currently enrolled in courses at Phoenix College where he is pursuing a degree

in counseling. Although he has a very hectic and busy schedule this semester, he has found time on several occasions to return the the ASU campus and speak to the current veterans who are enrolled in the VUB program.

Mr. Ginn has the unique ability to motivate others to achieve their individual goals and convey the importance of education. For these reasons and many more, the VUB instructors and staff, highly recommend, nominate and endorse Mr. Ginn to be awarded this scholarship.

VUB Adds English & Computer Classes to CASS-Lodestar Campus

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n any weekday 500 or more people gather at the Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) and the Lodestar Resource Center Campus between 11th and 12th Avenues on Jackson Street in Phoenix.

As one arrives at this location, the visual image is startling. It is not a pretty sight. To see such a large number of mostly able-bodied men and women assemble and to sense the dissolution

that prevails is not easy for anyone who believes in a hopeful America. Many people are wrapped in blankets or sleeping bags. Some rest their heads on frayed travel bags and old suitcases which probably contain their only personal possessions.

Small groups gather around the picnic tables on benches sharing cigarettes and conversation. For several others, the artificial turf covered concrete is their bed for what is at best uncomfortable sleep. There is no comfort at this site.

The vast majority of people who gather daily at this location are homeless.

CASS and the Lodestar Resource Center provide a variety of services to the visitors. Some are temporary residents, and others are receiving counseling for a variety of personal situations and conditions. Many are looking for work.

Among this large and disparate gathering of people is an estimated 200 to 300 veterans. According continued on page 3

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to the Lodestar community officer, about forty of these former service men and women reside temporarily at the homeless shelter. Their beds are paid for by the Veterans Administration. Those veterans living at CASS and many of the others who do not live at CASS visit the complex regularly while they look for work through the social service offices located in the Lodestar complex. Two agencies that help with job placement activities are the DES and St. Joseph the Worker.

With such a large group of veterans who frequent the area daily, the VUB explored the possibility of providing educational training for those interested.

After contacting the outreach coordinator for the Lodestar Resource Center and sharing our vision,

initially 27 potential students signed up for classes.

VUB began English and computer literacy classes for veterans at the resource center on Sept. 15, 2009. The English class is held on Tuesdays from 8:30 am to 11 am, and computer literacy is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 am to 11 am.

Seven veterans are currently enrolled. Class size is limited to the eight computers available in the Lodestar classroom. There is now a waiting list.

Veterans Upward Bound is keenly aware of the circumstances surrounding these students. They are men and women who served our nation proudly and are now trying to improve their lives by taking advantage of much needed educational opportunities. One veteran told the VUB computer

teacher, “I really want to learn this computer literacy stuff because it’s going to help me get a better job and get me off the street. That’s my hope.”

Veterans Upward Bound is optimistic about this collaboration between CASS and the Lodestar Center and continues to reach out to veterans in Maricopa County. If a veteran wants to get help retooling his/her educational skills, he/she can call the VUB number at 480-965-3944.

The educational possibilities can lead to a GED certificate, a vocational school certificate, an associate’s degree at the community college, or a four year degree at the university. VUB is free to veterans.

ASU VUB Current Workstudy Students Alan Bagley

Dylan Park-Pettiford

Alan is from Phoenix, and served in the United States Army with C Troop, 4-10 Calvary. He is currently a sophomore at ASU and is working toward a Bachelor of Arts in secondary education in the area of English.

His major goal is to become a high school English teacher. His hobbies include biking, working out and spending time with friends and family.

Dylan is from San Jose, California. He served in the United States Air Force in the 129th Rescue Wing and is a senior this year at ASU majoring in film/media studies. Dylan’s goals are to become an entertainment or sports agent and also a published author. His hobbies include writing, sporting events, and film. Dylan has two sons, Brody, two years old and Hendrix, who is one.

Scott Ostrom

Stefan Walston

Scott is from Plantation, Florida. He joined the United States Marine Corps and served in the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion. He is majoring in sustainability with a minor in geology and is currently a junior at ASU. His goal is to save the planet by working with the social and cultural forces that shape the environment. Scott’s hobbies consist of backpacking, stand-up comedy and posting on Facebook.

Stefan is from Tempe, Arizona. He served in the Arizona National Guard as a military policeman for the 856th. He is currently a junior at ASU majoring in microbiology. His goal is to become a physician’s assistant.

His hobbies include the game of paintball, playing the guitar, skateboarding and drinking coffee.

Staff Newest Member to VUB Veterans Upward Bound is happy to announce the newest edition to our staff, Linda Watson. She is an instructional specialist who will be teaching computers. Welcome, Linda.

Days to Remember Thanksgiving Nov. 26 Christmas Dec. 25 New Year Day Jan. 1, 2010 Martin Luther King Day Observed Jan. 18, 2010 Groundhog Day Feb. 2 Presidents Day Feb. 15 Valentine Day Feb. 14 ASU Spring semester starts Jan. 19, 2010

Staff (From left to right): Marcus Wright, Frank Evans, Anthony Batiste, Constance Benedict, Jeannette Breden, Derrick Fletcher, Bob Mena

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Community Colleges Spring Semester starts Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010 Students remember to resister early, pay your fees and get advised before starting classes!

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