Veterans Upward Bound News: November & December

College Readiness Assessments  |  Computer Laptop  |  Live Online Classes Transition Assistance  |  Tutoring Support  |  Workshops Director’s News | Lori Borth I have always felt so fortunate to work for VUB, to assist the veterans and service members who come to us for help. Let me share a few of the many things that make Veterans Upward Bound a special program. VUB’s long history has taught us a thing or two about preparing veterans and military service members for higher education or training programs. The evolution of the program to capably meet the changing needs of participants is impressive. It is rare that we have a request for training, services, or support that we are unable to fulfill. The expansion of online services makes the entire program accessible to even the most rural or isolated participant. Still, as impressed as I am with the latest version of the program – some of the changes taking place during my Retirement 1.0 – I am more impressed with the quality of work and the absolute dedication of the staff. They have formed a great team in my absence. Without question, you can count on all of us to respond to inquiries, find answers, put support in place, and make referrals. You never have to wonder if any of the staff will get back to you. Ability and dependability. That should be our motto. Please make use of VUB services and staff whenever possible. You won’t be disappointed. Sometimes our greatest ability is our dependability. We show up, we come through, we deliver. ~ Philip de Courcy Need-To-Know | Michael Wolff It’s hard to believe how quickly time is passing—September and October flew right by! With Labor Day and Halloween behind us, we are looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas. I had high hopes of completing several new projects for VUB, but a recent injury forced me to take some time off and put those plans on hold. On the bright side, the extra downtime gave me a head start on my holiday shopping! On the program side, VUB recently completed a much-needed overhaul of our website and social media channels. If you haven’t visited our site lately, please stop by and take a look—we are really proud of the refreshed design. We also have exciting new services coming in the new year and look forward to sharing details soon. I would like to take a moment to wish all of our veterans and service members a Happy Veterans Day and thank you for your service. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday spent with family and friends. As a reminder, if there is anything Veterans Upward Bound can do to assist your program, please let us know. We are always looking for opportunities to partner with other service providers to deliver even better services to Montana’s veterans and service members. Eastern Montana Update | Michelle Watson VUB provides one on one in person or virtual tutoring services in subject areas including mathematics, writing, computer technology, sciences, healthcare, and communications. If there is another area of need, we will try to fill it. If you have clients or current students who could benefit from this resource, please encourage them to contact me at (406) 267-6492. A change in career or the transition back to school can be challenging and having extra support not only builds confidence but breaks down barriers. Western Montana Update | Laurie Nichols VUB Kalispell is located in the Veterans Center on the campus of Flathead Valley Community College.  In recognition of the nearly 100 veterans who attend FVCC, the campus will be adding a new feature directly outside the Veterans Center consisting of the US flag and flags for each branch of the military with the corresponding motto for that branch.  Please stop by and see this beautiful new addition to the Veterans Center! I will be in Missoula on Wednesday, November 19 meeting with veteran service providers and VUB participants.   VUB Updates | Important Phone Number Update Our 1-800 toll-free number is no longer active. You can still reach us directly for all inquiries at (406) 272-2604. Please save this new number to your contacts! VUB Classes & Services Veterans Upward Bound classes are officially underway! In-person sessions in Billings and Kalispell, along with our live online classes, kicked off last week. We’re off to a fantastic start, and we couldn’t be more excited to work with this incredible group of veterans. Keep pushing forward and doing great work, VUB students! Honoring Our Veterans! VUB invites veterans and military service members to join us for a special Veterans Day Luncheon! Enjoy food, connect with fellow veterans, and let us express our gratitude for your service. Date: Thursday, November 11th Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Location: Campus Veterans Lounge at Flathead Valley Community College, MSU-Billings and MSUB City College. Stop by between classes for a bite to eat; we look forward to seeing you! Student Highlight My experience with Veterans Upward Bound has been incredibly rewarding. The support, encouragement, and educational opportunities I received helped me overcome challenges, grow as a student, and take meaningful steps towards achieving my long-term goals. Austin Standing Rock Army Veteran & Business Finance Major VUB Student Tip Establish your why and/or for who. Think of selecting your major as an enlistment contract. Can I see myself investing the time and effort needed to achieve in this field of study? My goal was a future job, stability, and a sense of fulfillment. ~ Austin Standing Rock Veteran Resource Shout In this edition of Veterans Upward Bound news, I want to take a moment to shine a spotlight on my incredible colleagues: Lori, Michelle, Alex, and Laurie. After a recent tendon rupture and surgery led to time away from the office and reduced hours, this team stepped up with endless care, understanding, and support. I couldn’t ask for better teammates or better people. Thank you all so much! ~Michael Veterans Upward Bound Staff Lori Borth | lborth@vubmt.com | (406) 272-5227 Director | Billings Michael Wolff | mwolff@vubmt.com | (406) 272-5218 Assistant Director & Technology Manager | Billings Michelle Watson | mwatson@vubmt.com | (406) 272-6492 Coordinator of Educational Services | Billings Laurie Nichols | lnichols@vubmt.com | (406) 272-2504 Outreach Advisor | Kalispell Alex Satre-Hansen | asatrehansen@vubmt.com | (406) 200-8415 Administrative Assistant | Billings