The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: veteransday

  • Connections Between Veterans Propel Academic Success

    Connections Between Veterans Propel Academic Success

    Student veterans make connections and have access to resources with help from VETS

    Humboldt State University has about 500 veteran-affiliated students, according to HSU Veterans Enrollment and Transition Services.

    James Lamping, the outreach coordinator at the VETS office and a veteran himself, works to connect veterans by giving them a place to talk, seek therapy and find friends.

    “Every vet comes from a different background, and it’s an interesting community,” Lamping said. “Even though there is a lot of diversity between us, we all share a culture tying us together.”

    Nov. 11 is the anniversary of the signing of the armistice, which ended World War I. The day honors former and current military service people and is observed as a federal holiday, Veterans Day. HSU students and faculty have the day off.

    One way the veterans at HSU connect is through the Outdoor Sports Program facilitated by the VETS office. Year-round, a group of veterans partake in several outdoor sports activities like hiking, kayaking and snowboarding.

    James Lamping (left) and John Biggs. | Photo courtesy HSU VETS

    John Biggs, a student veteran majoring in marine biology, went on one of the outdoor trips when he moved to Humboldt State in the spring of 2015. He was able to familiarize himself with other students and build relationships.

    “We did a big hiking trip up in the Trinities, a rafting trip,” Biggs said. “All the people I met on that trip were my core group of friends when I started here.”

    Biggs said that having friends and familiar faces in his classes helps him focus on learning. It had been six years since the last time he took an algebra class.

    “I feel like I’m more successful taking classes when I know somebody and have someone to talk to and study with than just myself,” Biggs said. “I’m not someone who asks questions. That’s just my personality.”

    Lamping said veterans are one of the more successful populations on campus, partly due to the structured lifestyle that is familiar to military life. Having something to do every day provides a daily purpose.

    “Having the structure is nice,” Biggs said. “To have something to do rather than figuring it out on your own.”

    The VETS office provides help and academic services for veterans. VETS connected Biggs with the Student Disability Resource Center to help him in the Learning Center.

    “I’m not a big test taker, so that was fun,” Biggs said. “That was really helpful.”

    Kim Hall, veterans program administrator for HSU, was one of the people who helped Biggs get back into the flow of school. Hall started the outdoors program and also started the North Coast Veterans Stand Down, a three-day event that provides food for homeless veterans at the county fairgrounds in Ferndale.

    In celebration, HSU VETS is hosting a dinner event this Friday, Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m in the Green and Gold Room on HSU’s campus. The Veterans Day Celebration is free for veterans and their families.

  • Iraq to Humboldt

    Iraq to Humboldt

    By | Andre Hascall

    Being in the military and being in college share a few similarities, according to Marine Combat Veteran Emilio Pena. However, as he said, it is still impossible to compare.

    “In boot camp you get used to being in close quarters with everyone, like the dorms,” Pena said. “You create those bonds with people, being close with them and going about your whole day with them.”

    Pena, better known as ‘E’ to his friends, graduated High school in 2004 and almost immediately enlisted into the United States Marine Corps. Yet his contributions to the USMC were halted for a year when he broke his collarbone shortly after enlisting.

    “I could tell that my recruiter thought that I was faking to get out of what i signed up for,” Pena said. “But once I healed up they sent me to boot camp in San Diego a couple weeks after.”

    Pena says that his favorite food are corndogs. He refers to himself as “super basic” because of this. “We didn’t have full kitchens in the barracks,” Pena said. “So I’m used to eating frozen foods.”

    Spending time at boot camp in San Diego led to Pena getting even more training, this time in North Carolina going to school for the USMC.

    After school, Pena got his first taste of being overseas when he was sent to Japan for two years. “Japan was crazy. It was fun. It was crazy fun,” Pena said.

    Pena spent his time in Japan at an age where many people start their college careers. Pena said it was Japan where he did most of his growth, from a boy to a man.

    “There were plenty of people that were college aged, out and about,” Pena said. “It was great, I was the same age as them but without the homework.”

    Whenever Pena had some free time he made the most of it. Pena said that Japan nightlife is a huge party, every night.

    When specifically talking about Japan, where Pena spent most of his time as an active member of the USMC. Pena says that he made friends for life out there.

    “Once you leave that Environment there is nothing else like that,” Pena said. “I guess it would be similar to being on a sports team.”

    Pena is a fan of sports. ” I like the Sharks, the Yankees and the Raiders,” Pena said. “I love basketball too much to pick a team, I enjoyed watching Charles Barkley play, but I’m a Kevin Garnett fan for life.”

    After his stint in Japan, Pena went back to boot camp in San Diego for a few months, and shortly after spent nine months overseas in Iraq. Tours usually last six months, but Pena left the US early and stayed in Iraq late.

    “I left early and stayed later because of the money, that part made it worth it,” Pena said. “Overseas i got to work with expensive equipment too, so I was constantly flying over Iraq.”

    Fast forwarding to 2014, when Pena started his journey at Humboldt State. The Student Veteran Association was able to help Pena out right away.

    “I was living in my car when I got up here, Kim who runs the SVA saved me” Pena said. “Kim Hall helped me get a place to stay Fall 2014, I still live there now.”

    E even recalled other times when he was able to call on Kim Hall for help, and she delivered. Specifically noting a time that she helped E stay in school, despite Academic Probation.

    “She helped me a couple times,” Pena said.

    Aside from the SVA, Pena used other outlets to get acclimated to the college life. He joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity and has retained relationships through them. But he says most friends he has were made on the court.

    “I started balling at 11 when I got cut from my football team,” Pena said. “Now I play intramural ball on Tuesday nights, as well as Thursdays and Fridays.”

    In his 30’s, Pena says that basketball is the best way for him to get himself to workout. Playing against younger people help out with that.

    “I got 20 years of experience,” Pena said. ” I don’t got the same moves as I used to, but when you know where to be and what to do, you can still put it down.”

    Pena is finished with his bachelors degree in Psychology, but he is staying in Humboldt for a while longer as he works on his GPA. Pena is contemplating going to Grad school, but he will take on these tasks as they come.

    “Hey I’ll try to get my PhD if they let me,” Pena said with a chuckle. “But after that I hope to be a Combat Veteran counselor, and help make a difference.”

    *Emilio Pena and Andre Hascall are both members of Kappa Sigma fraternity