This year’s Veterans Day events at Waubonsee Community College celebrate the college’s unique role in helping veteran and active service student members apply military training to careers in civilian life.
Observances begin at 11 a.m. on the Waubonsee Sugar Grove Campus in Room 110 of the Academic and Professional Center.
Since 2012, Waubonsee Community College has been named a Military Friendly School by “G.I. Jobs,” the premier magazine for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. The magazine gives this designation to the top 20 percent of the nation’s colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to help service members and veterans apply their skills to careers in civilian life. Waubonsee also offers opportunities to earn college credits for basic training and for additional military experience through CLEP exams.
These applications of military service to career education give special significance to Veterans Day observances at Waubonsee, where the student population typically includes almost 400 veteran or active service members.
In this context, Veterans Day observances will include remarks and special performances by Waubonsee faculty, staff and students, including Dr. Melinda Tejada, Vice President of Student Development. Presentation of Colors will be conducted by Members of the American Legion Post 1271 of Sugar Grove.
Keynote Speaker
A special address in honor of Veterans Day will be given by Retired Lt. Colonel Terence D. Felton, United States Air Force, who currently works as Waubonsee’s Chief Information Officer. Colonel Felton was born in Chicago and enlisted in the Air Force in 1982, with initial assignment as a Command, Control, Communications Technician, 1964th Communications, Ramstien Air Force Base, Germany. He rose through the ranks to Staff Sergeant by 1987, and became a Technical Control Technician of the 264th Combat Communications Squadron at O’Hare Airport in 1992. A year later, he was the Officer-In-Charge of the Workload Control, 217th Engineering Installation Squadron, at O’Hare Airport.
In 1994 he was commissioned as an officer through the Academy of Military Service, Knoxville, Tenn. He then assumed additional duties as a Squadron Unit Security Manager and a Squadron Force Protection team leader. Colonel Felton also served as Representative to the 183rd Fighter Wing’s Combat Exercise Evaluation Team and as Family Liaison Officer assigned to assist families of deployed members.
His military service earned him the Meritorious Service Medal, The Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He retired after 33 years of dedicated service to our nation in November 2015.
For additional information on Waubonsee’s commitment to providing educational opportunities for veteran and active service military personnel, please visit www.waubonsee.ed/veterans
Observances begin at 11 a.m. on the Waubonsee Sugar Grove Campus in Room 110 of the Academic and Professional Center.
Since 2012, Waubonsee Community College has been named a Military Friendly School by “G.I. Jobs,” the premier magazine for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. The magazine gives this designation to the top 20 percent of the nation’s colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to help service members and veterans apply their skills to careers in civilian life. Waubonsee also offers opportunities to earn college credits for basic training and for additional military experience through CLEP exams.
These applications of military service to career education give special significance to Veterans Day observances at Waubonsee, where the student population typically includes almost 400 veteran or active service members.
In this context, Veterans Day observances will include remarks and special performances by Waubonsee faculty, staff and students, including Dr. Melinda Tejada, Vice President of Student Development. Presentation of Colors will be conducted by Members of the American Legion Post 1271 of Sugar Grove.
Keynote Speaker
A special address in honor of Veterans Day will be given by Retired Lt. Colonel Terence D. Felton, United States Air Force, who currently works as Waubonsee’s Chief Information Officer. Colonel Felton was born in Chicago and enlisted in the Air Force in 1982, with initial assignment as a Command, Control, Communications Technician, 1964th Communications, Ramstien Air Force Base, Germany. He rose through the ranks to Staff Sergeant by 1987, and became a Technical Control Technician of the 264th Combat Communications Squadron at O’Hare Airport in 1992. A year later, he was the Officer-In-Charge of the Workload Control, 217th Engineering Installation Squadron, at O’Hare Airport.
In 1994 he was commissioned as an officer through the Academy of Military Service, Knoxville, Tenn. He then assumed additional duties as a Squadron Unit Security Manager and a Squadron Force Protection team leader. Colonel Felton also served as Representative to the 183rd Fighter Wing’s Combat Exercise Evaluation Team and as Family Liaison Officer assigned to assist families of deployed members.
His military service earned him the Meritorious Service Medal, The Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He retired after 33 years of dedicated service to our nation in November 2015.
For additional information on Waubonsee’s commitment to providing educational opportunities for veteran and active service military personnel, please visit www.waubonsee.ed/veterans
