Military Appreciation Day at the K-State Rodeo
On Sunday, February 23, 2014, the Institute for the Health and Security of Military Families hosted an informational booth at the Military Appreciation Event, held at the 58th Annual K-State Intercollegiate Rodeo. Several hundred tickets were distributed to military members and families in the area, who attended the rodeo. In addition, Miss Kansas USA Audrey Banach and Miss Kansas Teen USA also were in attendance, greeting Rodeo guests.
K-State Military Education and Family Initiatives Symposium
On Tuesday, March 11, 2014, over 100 people attended the K-State Military Education and Family Initiatives Symposium, sponsored by the Colleges of Education and Human Ecology at Kansas State University. The symposium was held at Riley’s Conference Center, Fort Riley. The event included opening remarks by COL Andrew Cole, Garrison Commander, Fort Riley, and Dean Debbie Mercer, College of Education, Kansas State University. A keynote presentation on the historical partnership between K-State and Fort Riley was provided by Tony Crawford, K-State Libraries. The symposium included 12 break-out sessions in four separate tracks:
Understanding Today’s Military Students—2 tracks (K-12 and Higher Education)
K-12
- Sandy Risberg: College and Career Ready Standards and K-State College of Education Military Ed-OPS Program for pre-and in-service teachers
- Dr. Judy Hughey: K-State College of Education Military Connected Students & School Counseling
Higher Education
- Kevin Shea, Maria Clark, Paul Berg & Ashley Gleiman: Panel on Impact of Multiple Combat Tours on Learning
- Dr. Jane Fishback: Transition from Soldier to Student
Understanding Today’s Military Family Life Issues
- Dr. Mary Bell: Game Changers: How Soldiers’ Rank and Deployment Status Affect Their Financial Behaviors, Knowledge, and Anxiety.
- Dr. Joyce Baptist & Dr. Elaine Johannes: Today’s Military Youth: Research on Their Developmental Needs and Perspectives
- Dr. Briana Nelson Goff: Trauma and the Military Family: Research on the Impact of Trauma and PTSD on Spouses and Families
Fostering Community Connections
- Dr. Briana Nelson Goff and Kali Summers: Military Outreach Programs with K-State’s Institute for the Health and Security of Military Families
- Ann Domsch and Dr. Elaine Johannes: Kansas: Operation Military Kids and Programs for Military Youth
- Dr. Bronwyn Fees, Jackie Cox, & Dr. Bradford Wiles: Fostering Community Connections in Young Children in Military Families
Closing comments were provided by Dr. Beth Funk, wife of the Commanding General of the 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Major General Paul Funk, and Adjunct Faculty, College of Education, Kansas State University.
Corvias Military Housing Spring Into Fun Festival
The Easter Bunny hopped by Corvias Military Housing’s Spring into Fun event on Friday, April 18 at Rally Point Field, Fort Riley. The Institute held an information booth along with a “special guest”—The WILD-Cat in the Hat (who looks mysteriously like our Director?!?! Is that Dr. Goff???). Activities included egg hunts by age group, face painting, crafts, train rides, games and interactive activities, prizes and a petting zoo. It was a great day with several hundred military kids attending.
Unfortunately the annual Month of the Military Child (MOMC) Festival that was to be held at Fort Riley on Sunday April 27th had to be cancelled due to inclement weather.
Stay tuned for more opportunities to see the WILD-Cat in the Hat at future events!