NEWS

To Carlos Forero and many other veterans, acknowledging veterans who have served in the community is a vital component in cherishing American freedom. That’s where Operation Matriculation and Veteran OWLS come in.

Operation Matriculation, taking place on April 19, will be a student-hosted event to promote awareness and assistance for veterans returning from military service, particularly focusing on integrating veterans from military life into the university atmosphere at FAU.

The event, organized by students from the School of Communication and Veteran OWLS, will feature a wide variety of speakers and other activities to honor veterans in the community. The goal of the event is simple: to raise awareness of the importance of veterans not only overseas, but also in the community, explained senior public communication and political science major Chase Kulp.

Operation Matriculation was organized by the students in a communication class called “Communication, Democracy, and Civic Engagement,” along with the Veteran OWLS, a student group composed of veterans, ROTC members and patriotic students.

Kulp explained that there are more than 1.6 million veterans living in the state of Florida, and around 200,000 of them have served in the last 10 years. “It is important that we realize that these veterans have made sacrifices. There are a lot of veterans at FAU, and they are quickly gaining notoriety,” Kulp said.

Operation Matriculation will feature several speakers, including Congressman Allen West, a retired army colonel; Mary Jane Saunders, president of FAU; Howard Schnellenberger, FAU head football coach; and Carlos Forero, founder of the Veteran OWLS student organization. 

The event will also include free food from Duffy’s Sports Grill, Capital Grille, C.R. Chicks, Miller’s Ale House and 620 Subs. There will be several booths where visitors can write letters to soldiers, donation booths, and discussion panels.

Forero, a senior communication major, believes that Operation Matriculation is crucial for respecting veterans in the community. “The most important thing about veterans in the community is that each has proven potential to become successful citizens from military experience,” said Forero.

“We want to help fellow collegiate veterans in the transition from military to college life, and to enrich the community and [FAU] with veteran-sponsored and patriotic events,” Forero said. “It is important that we remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and create an atmosphere that allows veterans to get a true experience at [FAU], both socially and academically.”

Operation Matriculation will take place on April 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Free Speech Lawn.