“When I first returned to campus in August to complete my Master of Music degree, I was commuting weekly from Chicago—riding Amtrak and FlixBus, staying in hotels, and trying to balance travel with graduate coursework,” he shared. “It was exhausting, and it quickly became clear that something needed to change.”

That change came when he learned about the Chez Veterans Center.

“Andy Bender, Ingrid Wheeler, and the entire team welcomed me with such compassion and understanding,” he said. “Having a quiet, stable place to live on campus completely transformed my semester. It allowed me to focus on preparing for and successfully completing my recital—a milestone 35 years in the making.”

For him, the impact of Chez went far beyond housing.

“Beyond the comfort of having a place to live, what I found at Chez was a community of shared experience and mutual respect,” he explained. “The Center doesn’t just honor Veterans for their service—it invests in our futures, helping us learn, grow, and thrive beyond the uniform.”

That sense of connection felt familiar.

“Chez reminded me of the camaraderie I valued during my Army service,” he reflected. “It gave me the space to reflect, create, and finish what I started all those years ago.”

As he completed his graduate coursework and recital this fall, he expressed deep gratitude for the support he received.

“I’m deeply grateful for the support and humanity this Center provides to Veterans like me,” he said. “Chez made it possible for me to focus, succeed, and close an important chapter of my life.”