Veteran’s Day luncheon and annual War Paint exhibition celebrates, honors those who have served

Veteran’s Day luncheon and annual War Paint exhibition celebrates, honors those who have served

On Veteran’s Day, Friday, November 11, Ringling College of Art and Design will host a Celebration Luncheon, honoring those who have served, and who are currently serving in the US Armed Forces. Dr. Larry Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art and Design, Retired Major John Goss, and other veterans and guests will be in attendance. 

Additionally, the College will host the third annual art exhibition War Paint: Profiles of Courage, featuring portraits of local veterans created by Ringling College students and faculty in a variety of mediums. 

This exhibition was created as a tribute to the stories of military members who have served and those currently serving in the military. The images tell stories from WWll, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and current serving troops, that will enrich the Ringling College community for years to come.

Community members are invited to stop by the Selby Foundation Gallery to see the exhibition which will be on display through December 9. Admission is free. The gallery is located in the Arland and Sally Christ-Janer Center (the Illustration building) on the Ringling College campus and is open Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 3 pm. 

Military/Veteran Affiliated Services at Ringling College

In addition to these annual events, Ringling College is committed to supporting the creative educational pursuits of those affiliated with the military. 

Lisa Goss is Ringling College of Art and Design’s Veteran Affairs (VA) Certification and Readmission Specialist. In this role, she works closely with military and veteran affiliated students and families to help them navigate the college process, often with the assistance of VA benefits.

“As the VA School Certifying Official (VA SCO), it is my mission at Ringling College to be a conduit of information for students using VA educational benefits,” she explains. “We will assist with charting the transition from military to campus life, and help promote the student’s knowledge of resources, self-growth, and connections in an effort to turn the student’s passion into profession.”

Military/Veteran Affiliated Services at Ringling College assists students and families with applying for benefits, providing information on how VA education benefits and the college processes work together, and connecting students with college resources such as academic advising, counseling, tutoring services, and financial aid resources. 

“I came to Ringling College of Art and Design with a strong military family affiliated background,” said Goss. “My spouse retired from the Army with 28 years of service. I have worked in post-secondary education for over 25 years with scholarships and financial aid, guiding students through the college process and VA education benefits.” 

Over the years, she has served on Readiness Advisory teams, worked for legislative changes to support the military affiliated, and connected with veterans across all branches from World War II to current conflicts through the power of their stories. 

Currently, Ringling College has 84 military affiliated students using VA education benefits and 16 veterans representing the six US military branches. The College offers our US veterans and their dependents the opportunity to expand their artistic abilities while using their GI Bill education benefits to help fund their educational goals. The GI Bill® is a collection of benefit programs designed to help veterans and active-duty members of the military earn an education. The program also enables some family members of veterans to receive financial assistance to help with their schooling or professional training. 

Ringling College is proud to participate in the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program which provides additional financial assistance to veterans and dependents who qualify for 100% of Post-9/11 GI Bill® educational benefits. Ringling College provides Yellow Ribbon scholarship assistance in the amount of $5,000, which is matched by the VA for a total of $10,000 for the year.

Veteran’s Club

Ringling College also hosts the Veteran’s Club, a student-led campus organization that promotes the camaraderie of all former and actively serving veterans from across the world. The club shares stories internally and externally through art and outreach within the campus and local community and its veteran populace, highlighting artwork, service, and our community’s heroes. 

“It is our goal to continue to grow and support military affiliated services here at Ringling College of Art and Design,” said Goss. “To start with, Ringling College has been approved for a new VA work study program (funding will come from the Department of Veteran Affairs), and for a VA Resource Service Liaison on campus who will help guide our military affiliated students towards resources that will promote success. I will continue to work with the Veteran’s Club to bring Student Veterans of America, a non-profit that addresses the needs and concerns of American military veterans in higher education, onto campus. This will open the door for additional scholarships and career opportunities for our military affiliated students.”

To be considered for the GI Bill programs, students are required to provide a copy of their VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and complete a request for certification form with the College’s VA School Certifying Official (Lisa) in the Office of Advising, Records, and Registration. 

For more information, visit the Military/Veteran Affiliated Services webpage.

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941-330-7436

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