East Central University Veterans Upward Bound

🌟 Roger and John Representing Veterans Upward Bound! 🌟
Yesterday, Roger and John had the opportunity to attend the Southern Oklahoma Poverty Summit at the Ardmore Convention Center. It was a powerful day dedicated to understanding the realities of poverty in our communities and exploring meaningful ways to help individuals move from survival to stability.
🕘 The Day Included:
• Cost of Poverty Experience (COPE): An eye‑opening simulation that highlighted the daily challenges faced by families living in poverty.
• Lunch & Learn with Ardmore Bridges: A chance to connect, share, and learn more about local efforts making a real impact.
• Bridges Out of Poverty Training: A deep dive into hidden rules, shared language, and community‑driven solutions that create lasting change.
We’re grateful for the chance to be part of such an important conversation and to continue strengthening partnerships that support the community!

🌟 Managing Stress and Yourself – Event Recap
The Managing Stress and Yourself workshop on March 25th was a meaningful success, and we’re grateful for everyone who showed up and took part in the conversation. The room was filled with veterans, students, and community members committed to understanding mental health after military service and supporting one another.
💬 Highlights from the Day
- Randy Guttenberger led an engaging and insightful session focused on navigating life beyond the uniform.
- Attendees explored practical tools for managing stress, building resilience, and strengthening the mind‑body connection.
- The turnout reflected just how important these conversations are for our community.
🙌 Thank You for Being There
Your presence made this event powerful. Showing up for yourself—and for each other—creates the kind of supportive environment that helps our community grow stronger. We’re glad to have shared this afternoon of wellness, learning, and connection with you.
More opportunities like this are on the horizon, and the momentum from this event sets a strong foundation for what comes next.

🇺🇸 Attention Veterans!
If you’ve been thinking about filing a VA claim, updating your benefits, or enrolling in VA health care, this is a perfect opportunity to get the support you deserve.
📣 The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs is hosting a PACT Act Veterans Claims Clinic & VA Health Care Enrollment event — and you’re invited!
📍 Location: VFW, 1109 East 6th St., Tulsa, OK 74120
📅 Date: March 26, 2026
⏰ Time: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
This clinic is designed to help veterans get hands-on assistance with:
- Filing or updating VA disability claims
- Understanding PACT Act benefits
- Enrolling in VA health care
- Asking questions directly to knowledgeable staff
Whether you’re just starting the process or need help with next steps, this is a great chance to get personalized guidance in a supportive environment.
Let’s spread the word and make sure every veteran in our community knows about this opportunity. Your service matters — and so do your benefits. 🇺🇸

For more information, please visit this website:

PACT Act Copyright 2024 | Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs | All Rights Reserved ODVA is committed to facilitating the accessibility of its website. Please be aware that our efforts to ensure website accessibility are ongoing. If you have specific questions or concerns about the accessibility of any p...

📣 Reminder: Managing Stress and Yourself – March 25
Just a quick reminder that our Managing Stress and Yourself event is coming up on March 25th from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM in the Estep Room on campus.
This session, led by Randy Guttenberger, will focus on mental health after military service — offering practical tools, insight, and support for navigating life beyond the uniform.
If you know a veteran who could benefit from strategies to manage stress, build resilience, and better understand the mind‑body connection, we’d love to see you there.
👉 Join us for an afternoon dedicated to wellness, growth, and taking care of yourself.

⚙️ 2026 Welding Applications Open
Wounded Warriors Family Support is now accepting applications. First class starts March 2026.
🔥 Hands-on training 🔥 Veteran-focused 🔥 Limited spots
👉 Apply now wwfs.org

🌟 Strengthening Our Community Together 🌟
We’re proud to continue our partnership with ABHC (Ardmore Behavioral Health Collaborative) — an organization that’s truly moving the needle for mental health, resilience, and community wellbeing across our region.
ABHC’s 2025 impact speaks for itself:
- 🧩 170 community partner meetings held to strengthen collaboration
- 🤝 110 attendees at Community Partner Meetings
- 🏛️ 40 organizations represented at the Community Partner Resource Fair
- 📚 149 resources listed on the Community Resource Page
- 🧠 140 participants in NEAR Science workshops
- 🎓 96 attendees at the Education Hub Conference
- 🍎 116 teachers trained through professional development
- 🌍 8 community partners attended NatCon to bring national insights back home
- 🎤 Numerous events attended as presenters or vendors, from Literacy Day in the Park to the Oklahoma Caregivers Conference
- 👥 20 students supported through the Habitudes program
- 📦 25,000+ Community Resource Magnets distributed
- 💵 $23,000 awarded in grant funding to expand community support
- 🧒 Building Better Childhoods Campaign: 6 ACEs‑prevention strategies, 15 partner organizations, 20 posts, 4,830 video views, and 11,386 total content views
- 🌉 Ardmore Bridges Initiative: 104 workshop attendees, 23 organizations represented, 11 Getting Ahead graduates, and 198 sessions attended
- 🏠 3H Task Force: 19 members, 10 organizations, 23 volunteers, and 67 unsheltered individuals identified through coordinated outreach
This work reflects a shared commitment to building a healthy, connected, resilient community — and we’re honored to stand alongside ABHC as they continue to lead with compassion, data, and collaboration.
Together, we’re creating pathways to hope, stability, and opportunity for individuals and families across Ardmore and beyond.

🇺🇸✨🇺🇸
In addition to supporting our veterans’ academic goals, Veterans Upward Bound is proud to uplift our local community. One way we do this is by supporting The Irving Center here in Ada, Oklahoma, as they help veterans heal and grow through art.
Thanks to the Healing Through Art and Innovation grant provided by the Oklahoma Arts Council, The Irving Center is expanding opportunities for veterans to explore creative skills such as drawing, painting, and writing.
Thank you to The Irving Center for inviting us to be part of this meaningful work and for continuing to serve our veteran community with heart and purpose. 🇺🇸✨🇺🇸