PennWest-California Military & Veterans Alumni

02/23/2025

Sharing for our alumni and community members ⤵️

Press Release
For Immediate Release

Elizabeth, Pennsylvania – The volunteer organizers of the Provins-Hummel Memorial Golf Outing are pleased to announce the second annual event, which will honor the legacies of two beloved local law enforcement officers.

This year’s event is scheduled for Sunday, May 18, 2025, at Butler’s Golf Course in Elizabeth Township. The organizers are excited to continue this tradition, which aims to celebrate the lives of Officer Dale Provins, Jr. and Michael Hummel, while raising funds to support their families and causes close to their hearts. The event is expected to reach full capacity once again, following the overwhelming success of last year’s outing, which sold out in just a few weeks after its announcement.

The ceremony will feature a color guard presentation, followed by a rifle salute and the playing of TAPS just before 9:00 AM. Local businesses and individuals interested in sponsoring or donating to this meaningful event are encouraged to reach out to the event organizers at [email protected].

Officer Dale Provins, Jr., a Rostraver Township resident, tragically lost his life in the line of duty on June 3, 2020. A collision with an oncoming vehicle, which crossed the center line and struck his patrol car head-on, resulted in fatal injuries. The driver of the vehicle was charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, among other charges. Officer Provins was a proud U.S. Marine Corps and Pennsylvania Army National Guard veteran, having served in both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield. He dedicated 15 years to the Jefferson Hills PD and was a third-generation police officer. Provins is survived by his daughter, fiancée, parents, and siblings.

Michael Hummel, affectionately known as "Dr. Hummel," "Maj. Hummel," or "Ofc. Hummel," passed away in March 2024. A resident of Coal Center, Hummel served 22 years in the United States Army, earning numerous honors, including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Following his military service, he worked as a Senior Professor of Criminal Justice and Security Studies at PennWest California and served part-time as a certified police officer in both City of Monessen and Charleroi. Hummel is survived by his three children: Nathan, Joseph, and Katie.

Both Provins and Hummel shared a commitment to service, having served in the Gulf War and later in law enforcement, and both had ties to California University of Pennsylvania (now Pennsylvania Western University).

Family members from both the Provins and Hummel families will be present to honor their legacies.

For more information, including registration or to inquire about sponsorships, please contact the organizers at [email protected].

12/09/2024

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Keith Medley, former Assistant Director of Military and Veterans Affairs at CalU. Keith, a retired active duty Chief Petty Officer, was deeply dedicated to supporting student veterans and their families. His commitment extended beyond his role, from his active involvement in the Veterans Club to his work with the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge testing and su***de prevention training on campus. Keith's passion for helping others was matched only by his love for his family and community.

We extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones and will keep them in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Keith's legacy of service and compassion will never be forgotten. 🇺🇸 😢

https://www.kapr.com/obituary/Keith-Medley?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2yK9Mglp2E71pWBNoMz-l6qxzVy-F7hDKCLkRrZabNxtJssUnW-x0bITQ_aem_nhL5-cOgzG8ncmTvC456fQ

10/24/2023

🚨Just a few days left to RSVP🚨

[email protected]

Cal State and Cal U or alumni are FREE.

Join us on as we celebrate one of the longest traditions in SWPa - honoring our student veteran, alumni, and area veterans. 50 consecutive years of student veterans and alumni participating in this event. We have two very distinguished and decorated alumni who will be proving remarks during this program.

The ad below has been in the local paper and also circulating in social media. This is a historic event that we hope will continue through the support and efforts of Penn West’s new leadership. 🤝

RSVP today to ensure you receive a commemorative 50-year gift!

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS! 🇺🇸

09/26/2023

Cal U Friends - we either make this work or simply set back and watch 49 years of history fall apart.

BLUF: a group of us (military / veteran) alumni are working as hard as we van to make sure this tradition continues. Nearly a month ago we sent written communication to Penn West asking about the dinner and the club. For the most part, they did not answer the close-ended questions that would have taken 3 minutes. Instead, someone wrote back and blamed this all on the fact there is no Veterans Club: “The decision to update the legacy programming at our California campus and introduce new initiatives was driven by several factors.” ..”The annual dinner historically has been organized and hosted by the Military and Veterans Club, which is currently inactive, due to lack of membership.”

If you know anything about non-traditional
students, especially Veterans and members of the military, 95% of them do not live on campus and upwards of 80+% don’t live in the local community. They have families. They take evening and online courses. Many work part and full-time. The list goes on. It’s disappointing to say no one will continue this tradition because there is no club. I’ll leave at that for now.

MISSION - help is make the 50th both a reality and help us send a message back to Penn West and let them know they need to continue this next year. We are leaders. And as student veterans and alumni, we take care of our own.

Please share the flyer below via social, text, email, whatever. Tag or share this. We need to have 40+ but less than 100. Catered dinner with “social hour” and also cash bar.

Contact us via the email below with questions. RSVPs are required. This is it. We either make it work or sit back and watch all of the history be erased and canceled.

*this is not in collaboration with or associated with Penn West or any office or the employees*

09/19/2023

Alumni and community leaders! Several alumni will be working together to host a 50th annual dinner THIS NOVEMBER. As of this date, we are unable to confirm/deny if the PennWest Veteran’s Club is active or if they are coordinating this historic event. We have sent several emails but nothing of value or relevancy has been provided. 😔 This could very well be the final Veteran’s Day dinner - a tradition that started in 1973.

In the meantime, if you would like to attend our dinner on November 11th, please message this page or email us at: [email protected].

We hope you’ll consider joining us for this very important event - quite possibly the longest standing consecutive dinner for Veterans (in higher education) in the country! 🇺🇸

12/06/2022

Updates for Spring 2023 VA Benefits. See below.

Winter 2022 and Spring 2023 forms are available online: www.calu.edu/veterans

**IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR SPRING 2023 VA BENEFICIARIES**

The - Cal Office of Military & Veterans Success has been informed by the (federal) Benefits Administration (VBA), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that our current processing platform, VA-ONCE, will be sunset after January 13, 2023.

We are told that the new platform, Enrollment Manager, will become active at the end of January. Due to this change, if you will be using education benefits this spring, we HIGHLY encourage/recommend that you to submit your
Application for Enrollment' form to us as soon as possible. I anticipate that by us processing as many enrollment certifications (VA 1999s) now, it will reduce the chance of a delay in your January stipend benefits (the funds paid to you). My office never has and never will guarantee the timing of VA payments such as tuition/fees or BAH and book stipends. Processing your enrollment now is the best course of action that we have in an attempt to mitigate all of this. Additionally, our office will be closed during the Christmas break from December 26 - 30. I will have limited access to e-mails during this time.

Thank you to those who have already submitted their Spring 2023 'Application for Enrollment' forms to us.

We will continue to work with each student individually, and over the holiday break, to ensure as much as a seamless transition that we can possibly hope for. Thank you for your understanding, patience and cooperation as we work with the Department of Veterans Affairs and their migration to a better operating system.

*NOTE* this "should not" have any impact on the winter 2022 certifications sent to the VA. This change to Enrollment Manger is impacting colleges/universities and other trade schools across the globe.

Mr. Robert Prah, '06 & '10
Director, Office of Military & Veterans Affairs
[email protected]

11/15/2022

Cal military students, student veterans, alumni, and community members:

We have a new e-mail address to help us with the planning phase of the 50th Annual Veterans Day Dinner (November 2023).

If you are interested in receiving updates or more information OR if you would like to serve on one of our committees (details pending), please e-mail us and let us know!

[email protected]

We look forward to seeing so many of our past students / alumni in Pittsburgh next November! Help us make the 50th the best yet!

Stay tuned for more details.

11/08/2022

Our 49th annual dinner is tonight!

🇺🇸

Student Veterans of America

PennWest California

09/14/2022

Reminder: we will have our Veterans Club meeting on Thursday at 11:30A. 3rd floor of Manderino Library at PennWest California. See you there! 🇺🇸

01/13/2022

This isn't the first time Officer Ptak has stepped up in a deadly situation.

11/11/2021