January 28, 2025
Celebrating a New Semester
The Spring 2025 Kickoff Event at the Chez Veterans Center was an amazing way to start a new semester! The event was energetic and welcoming, and military-connected students from diverse backgrounds were able to come together. Over a delicious spread of Rosati’s pasta, chicken, and salad, the students, faculty, and staff gathered to share experiences, […]
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December 16, 2024
Student Spotlight: Frank Wittkamp
Meet Frank, a driven and dedicated student from Lima, OH, who is currently in the Army ROTC here at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Pursuing a major in Sociology with a minor in Psychology, Frank is deeply passionate about understanding human behavior and the intricacies of society. His academic journey doesn’t stop there—he plans to […]
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December 16, 2024
Student Spotlight: Klayton Donoghue
Meet Klayton, a soon-to-be graduate who is finishing up his degree in Kinesiology with a focus on Physical Education. After serving in the United States Air Force, Klayton decided to pursue higher education and is now preparing to embark on a career in teaching. As he wraps up his time at university, he’s excited for […]
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December 16, 2024
Student Spotlight: John Goeken
Meet John, who was born at Fort Bragg, where his father was stationed with the 82nd Airborne as a parachute rigger. Later, he moved to Southern California to be near his mother’s family, and he spent most of his youth there. While his roots trace back to Fort Bragg, he considers Southern California his home. […]
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December 16, 2024
Student Spotlight: Jacob Means
Meet Jacob, an Army Veteran who is now pursuing higher education here at UIUC. He is from Danville, Illinois, and is currently studying social work. He chose this career path because he has a strong desire to help people in any way he can. First, I asked him, what is your military history and what […]
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December 11, 2024
Student Spotlight: Noel Mrowiec
Noel Mrowiec, a graduate student from Lake Bluff, Illinois, has been on an incredibly successful journey from military service to graduate school. They are currently pursuing a Master of Engineering in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department. Noel is focusing specifically on machine learning and artificial intelligence. My first question to themwas: What are your […]
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November 13, 2024
Student Spotlight: Mayra Ortega
At the Chez Veterans Center, we strive to highlight the diverse stories of the incredible students within the military-connected community. Today, we will be featuring Mayra Ortega, a first-generation student from Chicago, Illinois who is currently pursuing a degree in Nursing. At 17 years old, Mayra enlisted in the Army National Guard to create new […]
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November 12, 2024
A Heartfelt Thank You to Denise Richards and Denise’s Retreats
The Chez Veterans Center is incredibly fortunate for our community support, from compassionate individuals to larger organizations that seek to give back to those who have served or country. This year, we are especially grateful to Denise Richards and the wonderful women at Denise’s Retreats who have generously created a food drive to stock our […]
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November 04, 2024
Chez Veterans Center Student Spotlight
Here at the University of Illinois, there are many incredibly talented students, especially within the military-connected community. Whether they are veterans, ROTC, or military dependents, they are all bringing diverse perspectives that enhance the University of Illinois’ academic and social environment. Moreover, their leadership, motivation, and integrity are vital for contributing to the University and […]
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October 29, 2024
Fall 2024: Budgeting 101 Workshop
On October 25, one of our work study students, Daniel, hosted an engaging budgeting event to give advice on how to take control of your finances. Students gathered at the Chez Veterans Center and enjoyed pizza while Daniel, a business major, gave a general overview of budgeting techniques. We kicked off the event with different […]
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