Penn State Military Appreciation Week events kick off Nov. 11

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State, along with the Borough of State College and Centre County, will honor the service and sacrifice of military service members, veterans and their families with a series of free virtual and in-person military appreciation events for the Penn State and local communities throughout November. 

Penn State’s 10th annual Military Appreciation Week officially kicks off on Nov. 11 with a series of festivities celebrating the Pennsylvania National Guard. The celebrations, which include Veterans Day activities on Nov. 11 will culminate in the annual Military Appreciation Tailgate and Football Game at Beaver Stadium on Nov. 20.

Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public — including veterans and service members — and Penn State students, faculty and staff. To support the health and safety of community members, all individuals, regardless of their vaccination status, are required to wear face masks at indoor events on campus. For off-campus events, individuals also should check local municipal ordinances related to COVID-19 guidelines.

Military Appreciation Week events:

• Oct. 26 — Centre County Military Appreciation Month Proclamation: 10 a.m. at the Willowbank Office Building in Bellefonte. Centre County Commissioners will recognize November as Military Appreciation Month during its weekly meeting. The meeting is open to the public.
   
• Nov. 8 — State College Borough Military Appreciation Week Proclamation: 7 p.m. at the State College Municipal Building. During its regular meeting, the State College Borough will recognize Military Appreciation Week in the Borough, to be held from Nov. 11 to 20. The meeting is open to the public.
   
• Nov. 8 — “Military Mondays” Penn State Law Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic: By appointment only at the Starbucks located at 232 West College Ave., State College, Pa. On the second Monday of every month, and on Nov. 15 this year for Military Appreciation Week, the Penn State Law Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic is honored to offer free legal consultations to veterans and servicemembers in partnership with Starbucks. The purpose of Military Mondays is to create a comfortable, accessible setting for the military and veteran community to receive legal advice and counsel. The Veterans Clinic has expertise in disability compensation, pension, and education benefits claims. Veterans and servicemembers may make appointments to discuss VA claims or appeals. Learn more and sign up for an appointment.
   
• Nov. 11 — Employee and Student Military Service Appreciation Breakfast: 9 to 10:45 a.m. in Heritage Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center. The annual Penn State Employee and Student Military Service Recognition Breakfast recognizes Penn State employees and students in the military. Students, faculty and staff who currently serve or have served in the armed forces are invited to attend the breakfast, which will feature light refreshments, entertainment and quilt presentations. Happy Valley Quilts of Valor will be presenting quilts to several Penn State and local veterans. Registration, which is available via an online form, is required by Oct. 25.  For additional questions, please contact Sharon Lucas at VetLady@psu.edu. The event will be live streamed at watch.psu.edu/MAW.
   
• Nov. 11 — Veterans Day Ceremony: 11:11 a.m. to noon on Old Main lawn and virtual. Join the Penn State community for a Veterans Day Ceremony honoring those who have served in the armed forces. The annual ceremony, hosted by the Penn State Student Veterans Organization, will be held in front of Old Main and will be live streamed at watch.psu.edu/MAW.
   
• Nov. 11 – Veteran's Day Grand Rounds: Navy Surgeon General Bruce Gillingham: 6 to 7:00 p.m., virtual. Rear Admiral Bruce Gillingham, surgeon general of the U.S. Navy, will speak at the Veterans Day Grand Rounds on Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. via Zoom. Gillingham, who will give a presentation titled “Leadership in Challenging Circumstances," was invited by the Penn State College of Medicine’s Student Veterans Association. Registration is not required. The event will be available at https://pshealth.zoom.us/j/97358419550. 
   
• Nov. 11 – Military Appreciation Hockey Game: 8:30 p.m., Pegula Ice Arena. Current and former military service members are eligible for discount tickets to watch Penn State Hockey face off against University of Michigan. More information on tickets is available online.
   
• Nov. 12 — Health and Wellness Series (part one): Mindful Resilience Yoga class, Yoga for Trauma Induced Relief: 4:30 p.m., virtual. The Penn State Military Appreciation Events Committee is proud to host yoga instructors from Wellness in Motion to present The Veterans Yoga Project. This year’s session will be virtual. The session will be open to anyone who would like to learn more about the Veterans Yoga Project, Mindful Resilience, or practice yoga in a safe and comfortable environment. Registration for this event is available online via Wellness in Motion. 
   
• Nov. 14 — Veterans Resource Fair, “Open Street” and light show: 3 to 5 p.m., Calder Way in downtown State College.The Penn State Military Appreciation Week Committee and the Downtown State College Improvement District are excited to host a Veterans Resource Fair in downtown State College. The “open streets” event will be part of a week-long Veterans Day celebration bringing the community together. Organizations dedicated to providing valuable resources for military families, veterans and the community will be participating in this event, which will conclude with a light show at dusk. More information is available via the Downtown Improvement District. 
   
• Nov. 15 — “Military Mondays” Penn State Law Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic: By appointment only at the Starbucks located at 232 West College Ave., State College, Pa. On the second Monday of every month, and on Nov. 15 this year for Military Appreciation Week, the Penn State Law Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic is honored to offer free legal consultations to veterans and servicemembers in partnership with Starbucks. The purpose of Military Mondays is to create a comfortable, accessible setting for the military and veteran community to receive legal advice and counsel. The Veterans Clinic has expertise in disability compensation, pension, and education benefits claims. Veterans and servicemembers may make appointments to discuss VA claims or appeals. Learn more and sign up for an appointment.
   
• Nov. 15 – Health and Wellness series (part two), Virtual yoga: 6:00 p.m., virtual. Warrior Strong Inc. will host a virtual yoga session for veterans to support energy and physiological processes. Join instructor Chris Smith, an Army combat veteran, for the session. Register for this event online.
   
• Nov. 15 – Student Veteran Resume Workshop: 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., virtual. Penn State Career Services will host a career services and resume workshop focused on tailoring military service to a civilian resume. Registration is not required; the event livestream is available at: watch.psu.edu/veteran-resume-workshop.
   
• Nov. 16 — Student Veteran Panel and Reception: 4 to 6 p.m., Bank of America Career Services Center, Room 130A, and virtual. A panel of student veterans from different branches of the military will host a “Ask a Vet” conversation to share their experiences and insights. There will be a social hour preceding the discussion. To register for the event (in-person or virtual), email veteran@psu.edu. The event will be live streamed at watch.psu.edu/MAW.
   
• Nov. 16 – Military Appreciation Women's Basketball Game: 7:00 p.m., Bryce Jordan Center. Current and former military service members are eligible for discount tickets to watch women's basketball take on Rider University. More information on tickets is available via Fevo.
   
• Nov. 17 — Veterans Luncheon: noon to 1:30 p.m., Robb Hall in the Hintz Family Alumni Center. The Penn State Military Appreciation Events Committee will host a luncheon celebrating Pennsylvania National Guard service members and veterans. Penn State faculty, staff, student and alumni veterans are invited to attend. Carl J. Ohlson, Ph.D., assistant athletic director for performance psychology at Penn State and retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, will be the guest speaker. Reservations are required by Nov. 1 and space is limited. A request to attend can be submitted via this online form.
   
• Nov. 17 – Health and Wellness series (part three), Breathwork class: 8:00 p.m., virtual. Warrior Strong Inc. will host a virtual breathwork session for veterans to support energy and physiological processes. Join instructor Chris Smith, an Army combat veteran, for the session. Register for this event online.
   
• Nov. 18 — Health and Wellness Series (part four): Yoga for Beginners: noon to 1 p.m., Wellness in Motion, 2541 E. College Ave., Suite B in State College and virtual. Mandy Glitzer of Wellness in Motion will lead participants through a beginner yoga class. No yoga experience is necessary, but participants should be able to get up and down from the floor with ease. Registration is required for both the in-studio class and online class. Contact Sharon Smith at srs38@psu.edu for more information.
   
• Nov. 18 – Military Appreciation Men's Basketball Game: 7:00 p.m., Bryce Jordan Center. Current and former military service members are eligible for discount tickets for the St. Francis Brooklyn basketball game. Watch the Nittany Lions go for the win by purchasing a discount ticket online via Fevo.
   
• Nov. 20 — Military Appreciation Tailgate: 8:30 a.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center. Penn State and Walmart will host a free tailgate featuring food, entertainment, a resource fair and more for active duty, Guard and Reserve military members, veterans and their families as well as Gold Star families. Additional events include a military-themed banner competition. Military members and veterans with valid proof of military service are welcome and can get complimentary tickets at the door.
   
• Nov. 20 — Military Appreciation Football Game: Noon at Beaver Stadium. Penn State will recognize Pennsylvania’s National Guard during the football team’s Military Appreciation game against Rutgers University.
   
• Ongoing — “Field to Front” exhibit at Penn State DuBois Library: A mobile exhibit on display in the Penn State DuBois Library this semester tells the story of Penn State athletes who served the United States during World War I. Titled “Field to Front," this mobile display was created by the team at the Penn State All-Sports Museum and will be open to the public for the entire fall semester.

For the latest Military Appreciation Week event information, visit the Penn State Military Appreciation website. To help support events organized by the Penn State Military Appreciation Committee, visit give.communityfunded.com/o/annual-giving/i/military.