��Vlog��ýLR student wins car, donates it to friend

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 17:25:35 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student received a car from a veterans’ nonprofit organization and paid the generosity forward by giving the car to a friend in need. Destinie Boren, a junior who is double majoring in studio arts and criminal justice, won the car from, a nonprofit organization working for the economic well being and quality of life of veterans. One of the organization’s initiatives is giving away donated cars to students who are veterans or family members of veterans. Boren is the daughter of National Guard member Bruce Boren of Dover, Arkansas. He has served in Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq, and will deploy to Africa in 2017. Gov. Asa Hutchinson selected Boren to receive the car during a drawing after the of the Arkansas State Veterans Home in North Little Rock. Students who are members of the ��Vlog��ýLR Students Affected by the Military group entered their names at the Veteran Villages of America website. “I got an email saying Asa Hutchinson pulled my name in the drawing to receive a car,” Boren said. “I was very excited to say Asa Hutchinson touched something with my name on it.” Mike Ross, chairman of the board of directors of Veterans Villages of America, presented the 2004 Buick LaSabre to Boren on Dec. 1 at a ceremony near the ��Vlog��ýLR Student Services Center. A World War II veteran donated the car.

Savon Thomas and Destinie Boren

“We want to invest in our student veterans,” Ross said. “They are going to be our future leaders.” Already having a working vehicle, Boren decided to give the car to a friend, Savon Thomas, a sophomore biology major, whose mother’s car broke down two months ago. “I’m giving the car to Savon and his family, because everyone needs a little help at times,” said Boren, who is moving to Florida in January for an internship at Disney World. “I would rather give the car away than have it sitting there not being used.” Thomas is grateful for his friend’s generosity. “I’ve never been given a car before. This is like something you hear about in movies,” said Thomas, who plans to become a pediatrician. “This is a God-sent blessing. There is no way I can thank Destinie enough.” In the upper right photo, Veteran Villages of America donated a car to Destinie Boren, the daughter of National Guard member Bruce Boren of Dover, Arkansas. Pictured, from left to right, are Kathy Oliverio, ��Vlog��ýLR director of military student success, Mark Diggs, Chancellor Andrew Rogerson, Destinie Boren, Mike Ross, chairman of the board of directors of Veterans Villages of America, and Bill Asti.

Military students attend signing for legislation providing in-state tuition

Gloria King — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 14:02:20 +0000

Two ��Vlog��ýLR students and their advisor recently attended the signing of a bill into law that entitles military and their dependents in-state tuition, regardless of residence. Tanya Dent-Lemley, president of ��Vlog��ýLR Students Affected by the Military (SAM), and David Carnahan, vice president of SAM, joined ��Vlog��ýLR Military Ombudsman Kathy Oliverio and others for the bill’s signing on April 9. The bill became Act 1266 after it was signed into law by Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. The discount applies to all state-supported institutions of higher education, trade schools, or vocational schools. ��Vlog��ýLR has been on the forefront of supporting its military students by charging in-state tuition and limited fees, according to Olivero, who said the new legislation positions Arkansas as a prime state for military members seeking to further their education. “Arkansas is now only one of only a few states in the country that allows military students, no matter where in the world they are stationed, as well as their dependents, to receive in-state tuition,” she said. ��Vlog��ýLR Department of Criminal Justice faculty member Dr. Julie Baldwin provided data to help justify the necessity for the bill. “I am excited to see such progress in advocating for veteran’s needs. This legislation shows that Arkansas truly cares about its veterans,” said Dent-Lemley. “This act provides so many opportunities to veterans who would have gone elsewhere to receive their education. Arkansas’ movement toward becoming more military friendly speaks volumes and I’m proud to have been a part of it,” said Carnahan. Since its inception in August 2009, the Post 9/11 GI Bill has helped 773,000 veterans and family members. In Arkansas alone, over 9,000 veterans and dependents used their benefits last year, which does not include thousands of active duty personnel currently serving and using tuition assistance instead of veteran-related educational benefits.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ýLR student wins car, donates it to friend

Military students attend signing for legislation providing in-state tuition

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ýLR student wins car, donates it to friend