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KU Veterans Alumni Network

The KU Veterans Alumni Network connects current and former military, spouses, dependents and allies through resources and events, with the aim of supporting the KU Military-Affiliated community.

Veterans Week Nov. 6-14, 2021

In honor of Veterans Day, the University of Kansas will host/participate in a variety of events Nov. 6-14. Events are open to the public, unless otherwise noted.

“This series of events is one of the many ways KU embraces our military-affiliated community,” said April Blackmon Strange, KU Military-Affiliated Student Center director. “We hope KU and community members will join us in one or more of these activities as we recognize and honor those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.”

Resources

KU Vets Day 5K

The annual KU Vets Day 5K begins and ends at Memorial Stadium, traveling through the KU campus past KU’s war memorials. All proceeds from the Vets Day 5K support KU Student Veterans of America chapter, the KU Veterans Alumni Network and the Lt. Gen. William K. Jones Military-Affiliated Student Center. A virtual option is also available.
Register

Challenge Coin

Veterans who are current KUAA members with military service can purchase a Challenge Coin for $5. Join as a new member or upgrade your current membership and receive one for free.

Honorary coins are awarded annually to individuals who have made contributions to the veterans community. Click here to view the list of recipients.
Order

Salute to Service

Salute to Service honors our nation's service members, veterans and their families. Selected honorees will be recognized on the video board during Kansas Athletics competitions and on social media.
Nominate

Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall

The Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall at the Dole Institute proudly continues Senator Bob Dole’s commitment to honoring Kansas veterans past and present. Submit a profile and photo of a Kansan who served our country from World War II to today.
Submit

Lt. Gen. William K. Jones Military-Affiliated Student Center

The Lt. Gen. William K. Jones Military-Affiliated Student Center serve as KU’s centralized resource for the military-affiliated community, enabling students to achieve their academic, personal and professional goals as they move to, through and beyond the university.
Info

Student Veterans of America

The Student Veterans of America's goal is to support military-affiliated students, and the community by providing opportunities in building and applying leadership and professional skills that will prepare students for their future careers and acquire a competitive advantage in the labor market.
Info

KU WAR MEMORIALS

Warren Corman, e’50, shares the stories behind the six war memorials on the University of Kansas campus. Corman served 13 years as KU’s university architect and is a member of the KU Veterans Alumni Network executive committee. He served in the United States Navy. 

Play Video

The Kansas Memorial Union is a memorial for the 129 KU students and alumni who died during the World War I. The building was completed in 1938.

Play Video

Memorial Stadium was officially dedicated on November 11, 1922. Along with the Kansas Union, it is an official memorial to the KU men and women who lost their lives during World War I.

Play Video

The Victory Eagle is a Kansas treasure that honors veterans and casualties of World War I from Douglas County, some of whom were KU students.

Play Video

On May 27, 1951, the Memorial Carillon and Campanile, dedicated May 27, 1951,  honors the 277 KU men and women who gave their lives in World War II.

Play Video

A seven-foot sculpture called “Korean Cranes Rising,” created by artist Jon Havener, honors the 60 KU students, faculty, staff and alumni who died in the Korean War.

Play Video

On May 25, 1986, the KU Vietnam Memorial became the nation’s first on-campus commemorative honoring those who died in America’s longest war, including 59 KU students and alumni. 

NETWORKING

Events

Watch Party
Crimson & Blue Views | KU WBB vs USC
Mar 25, 2024
| 9:00 pm

Plan Ahead!

Veterans Alumni Network Leaders

President

c'83
USMC Ret.

Vice President

g'99
USAF Ret.

Secretary
MASC Executive Director
Newsletter Editor

Kelsey Galle

KU Alumni Liaison

c'12

Executive Committee

USMC Ret.

Executive Committee

c'74
Navy Ret.

Executive Committee

e'50
Navy

Executive Committee

PhD'98
Army Ret.

Executive Committee

Dept. of State Ret.

Executive Committee

Army Ret.

Executive Committee

Army Ret.

Executive Committee

'85
USAF Ret.

Randy Masten

Executive Committee

g'03 PhD'19
Army Ret.

Sean Navarro

Executive Committee

Air National Guard​

Executive Committee

Army Ret.

Sarah Weygand

Executive Committee

Coast Guard

LTC Trent Williams

Executive Committee

Air Force Ret.

CAPT Todd Copeland

Ex Officio

Navy, Commander NROTC

Ex Officio

Army, Commander AROTC

LTC Charles Dorssom

Ex Officio

Air Force, Commander AFROTC

Drew Beets

SVA Advisor

USMC

Jim Pottorff

Ad Hoc

l'84
Army Ret.

Ashley Urban

Ad Hoc

EdD'20
Political Science

Brien Stonebreaker

SVA President

Veterans Alumni Network Leaders

President

c'83
USMC Ret.

Vice President

g'99
USAF Ret.

Secretary
MASC Director
SVA Advisor
Newsletter Editor

Executive Committee

Air National Guard

Executive Committee

USMC Ret.

Executive Committee

c'74
Navy Ret.

Executive Committee

e'50
Navy

Executive Committee

c'12

Executive Committee

PhD'98
Army Ret.

Executive Committee

Dept. of State Ret.

Executive Committee

Army Ret.

Executive Committee

Army Ret.

Executive Committee

'85
USAF Ret.

Executive Committee

Army Ret.

LTC Trent Williams

Executive Committee

Air Force Ret.

LTC Robert Kudelko

Ex Officio

c'95
USMC
D.C. Chapter Liaisons Officer

CAPT James Miller

Ex Officio

Navy, Commander NROTC

Ex Officio

Army, Commander AROTC

LTC Charles Dorssom

Ex Officio

Air Force, Commander AFROTC

Stewart Burns

SVA President

KU Alumni Liaison
Director of the Jayhawk Career Network

g'09 PhD'20

Veterans Alumni Network Leaders

President
COL Mike Denning, c’83 USMC Ret.
gmjdenning@ku.edu

Vice President
COL Greg Freix, g’99 USAF Ret.
gfreix@ku.edu

Secretary
MASC Director
SVA Advisor
Newsletter Editor

April Blackmon Strange
ablackmon@ku.edu

MASC Assistant Director
CAPT Sean Navarro,  Air National Guard
timothy.hornik@gmail.com

Executive Committee
MSGT Chris Campbell, USMC Ret.
ChristopherCampbell@ku.edu

Executive Committee
CAPT James Cooper, c’74 Navy Ret.
jscooper@kumc.edu

Executive Committee
Warren Corman, e’50 Navy

Executive Committee
Andrew Foster, c’12
fostera@ku.edu

Executive Committee
COL Bernie Kish, PhD’98 Army Ret.
bkish@ku.edu

Executive Committee
AMB David Lambertson, Dept. of State Ret.
dflambertson@gmail.com

Executive Committee
COL Steven Leonard, Army Ret.
steven.leonard@ku.edu

Executive Committee
Prof. Adrian Lewis, Army Ret.
arl0008@ku.edu

Executive Committee
Lt Col Jeffrey Long, ’85 USAF Ret.
jefflong@ku.edu

Executive Committee
BG Michael Rounds, Army Ret.

Executive Committee
LTC Trent Williams, Air Force Ret.
m528r913@ku.edu

Ex Officio
LTC Robert Kudelko, c’95 USMC
KUAA D.C. Network Liaison Officer 

Ex Officio
CAPT James Miller, Navy, Commander NROTC
trenton.lennard@ku.edu

Ex Officio
LTC J.D. Finch, Army Commander AROTC
jd.finch@ku.edu

Ex Officio
LTC Charles Dorssom, Air Force,  Commander AFROTC
nicolephelan@ku.edu

SVA President
Kendall Exferd, SVA President
thomasangel21@ku.edu

Senior Director of Alumni Programs & Hospitality, KU Alumni Association
Michelle Lang, b’01
michellem@kualumni.org

Contact the KU Veterans Alumni Network

Questions about the KU Veterans Alumni Network? Fill out the form below and we’ll contact you as soon as possible. 

Welcome to the University of Kansas Alumni Association

Your membership in the KU Alumni Association is the single most powerful way to make all of KU stronger, including the value of your own degree. Through your membership, the Association: