Wednesday, November 03, 2021

The UNCW Office of Military Affairs will honor all active-duty and veteran members of the U.S. armed forces with a full week of tributes and events planned during Veterans Week Nov. 6-12.  All Seahawks and community members with any connection to the military are invited to participate.  

“Today, more than 2,100 military-affiliated students are enrolled at UNCW and more than 8,000 are alumni, making Veterans Day especially meaningful to our Seahawk community,” said Bill Kawczynski, director of military affairs.  

Veterans Week kicks off with the Southeastern Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 6. This will be UNCW’s first participation in the parade, and all faculty, staff and students who have ties to the military (grandparents, parents, siblings, etc.) are invited to wear their UNCW colors and march along with other participating Seahawks. On Sunday, Nov. 7, more than 2,000 American flags will be placed around campus – one for each military-affiliated student, faculty or staff member.  

The Annual Veterans Day Ceremony will take place on Nov. 11 10:45-11:30 a.m. at Veterans Hall in the Allied Health Quad. The keynote speaker will be Ty Rowell, who served UNCW in various senior leadership roles beginning in 1974 and then continued volunteering following retirement. Rowell’s military experience includes three years of active duty with the Army, two years with the North Carolina National Guard and 23 years serving with the Army Reserves. Following the ceremony, all faculty, staff and students who are military-affiliated are encouraged to stay for a catered box lunch to connect with others.   

The Inaugural Veterans Week Fitness Expo will conclude the week’s events on Nov. 12 from 8-10 a.m., sponsored by the College of Health and Human Services, UNCW Office of Military Affairs, UNCW Campus Recreation, North Carolina Army National Guard, TRX Elite and Team RWB. Campus veterans and others can register to participate in a cadence run down Chancellor’s Walk and 12 functional training stations common to the military. Faculty, staff and students are invited to cheer on participants and explore health and wellness resources available on-site.   

“I can’t tell you how much it means to me that we are offering this expo for our campus community,” said Kawczynski. “This has been a tough semester for our military with the evacuation of Afghanistan, 13 killed in action--some who had ties to our military students here at UNCW--and the deaths of three students, two who were military. This expo offers a time to refresh and renew by celebrating our military and promoting health and wellness. We hope to make it an annual event so our students, employees and alumni can see and feel the support of our campus.”   

Other notable events include a “Band of Brothers” viewing party, a service dog social and Military Appreciation Night at the UNCW men’s basketball game on Nov. 12. 

A complete list of Veterans Week events and registration details can be found on the Office of Military Affairs’ event page. 

The Office of Military Affairs is an advocacy office that was established in March 2016 to develop and coordinate resources to help military-affiliated students--service members, veterans, and their family members--achieve their academic and career goals. Veterans Week supports a key priority of the university’s Strategic Plan to promote an inclusive culture and enhance student support. 

 --Krissy Vick 

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