BROOKINGS As the daughter of two disabled veterans, South Dakota State University sophomore Anna Atkinson is uniquely connected to and offers unwavering support for members of the military.
TheBrandtnativeisahumandevelopmentandfamilysciencemajorandanactivememberoftheSDStateArmedForcesAssociation.SheworksintheSouthDakotaStateOfficeofVeteransAffairsasawork-studystudent.
ShesalsobeentherecipientofaValorPartnersFoundationscholarship,aprogramtheuniversity,throughtheSDSUFoundation,hasparticipatedinwithagenerousmatchofscholarshipdollars.
The program provides scholarships for the spouses and children of 100% disabled or deceased veterans who are or have been eligible for the Department of Veterans Affairs Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance benefit, also known as Chapter 35.
IcantexpressenoughtheimpactourrelationshipwiththeValorPartnersFoundationhashadonourstudentsandprogram.TheSDStateVeteransAffairsOfficehasmanyprograms,butnonehavethefinancialimpactlikeourpartnershipwiththisfoundation,SDStateVeteransServicesDirectorRussChavezsaid.
OurChapter35recipientshaveenduredmanyhardshipsandshouldnthavetoworryaboutcollegecosts.Wepraisethepeoplewhohaveworkedtirelesslytomakethishappenforourveteranfamilymembers.Theworkisneverdone,soneithershouldthepraise,headded.
Chapter 35 provides monthly stipends directly to the children and spouses of veterans who have died in service, are missing in action, are captured or have a permanent and total service-connected disability. The Valor Partners Foundation scholarship provides additional support for tuition, fees and other costs, bridging the gap left by existing educational benefits.
AtkinsonisthedaughterofAnthonyAtkinsonofAnkeny,Iowa,aformerArmymedic,andSDStateCoordinatorofVeteransServicesConnieStoneofBrandt,aformermilitarypoliceofficerandgunnerwhoreceivedthePurpleHeart.Bothareon100%disabilityandareSDSUalums.
Findingtherightfit
At the Veterans Affairs Resource Center, Anna Atkinson works alongside Chavez and her mom to assist veterans served by the office. Shes also the Students Association ex-officio for the Armed Forces Association and participates in Adopt Brookings and the Human Development and Family Studies Club.
Atkinsonplanstouseherhumandevelopmentandfamilysciencemajorandgerontologyminortopursuesocialworkinnursinghomeswhenshegetsoutofschool,whichwillincludepursuingamastersdegree.
ShedecidedtocometoSDStatebecauseofboththeaffordablecostandthecommunityoncampus.
Itsnottoobig,nottoosmall.Youcanaskquestionsinclass.Itstheperfectmedium,whichIliked,shesaid.
Atkinson knew social work in nursing homes was the line of work she was interested in, and that she wanted to go to college, because of her dual-credit lifespan development class and her senior capstone project at Clear Lake High School. The project required a week of job shadowing.
IjobshadowedatanursinghomeinBrookings,andIreallylikedit.Itsofficework,butyoualsogooutandhavethoseconversationswithresidents.Ialsospentsometimeathospice,whichwasdefinitelyabitmoreintense,butIdidenduplikingit,soImightexplorethatpath,too,shesaid.
Healthcarewasnttherightfitforher,butshelikedthesocialaspectworkingwithseniorsandtheirfamilies.
Ilikethatprocessandbeingabletohelpoutpeopleastheyage,becauseIwouldlikesomeonetohelpmeasIage.Beingabletohelpsomeoneelsesfamilythatsstrugglingwithsomeofthetediousthingslikepaperwork,ornotunderstandingwhatthenursesaretalkingabout,beingabletohelpcommunicatewithfamiliesandresidents,reallyspoketome.
Shepursuedthehumandevelopmentandfamilysciencemajorbecauseshedidntwanttonarrowherstudiesexclusivelytosocialwork.Shealsocreditson-campusvisitswithmakingsureSDStateandthemajorweretherightchoiceforher.
Servingothers
Atkinsonsaidherfamilyhashadaveteranlegacyaslongasshecanremember,andeventhoughshedidnotchoosethatpath,herinvolvementineffortsthathelpveteransisherwayofgivingback.Shealsoseeshowherworkhelpingveteransrelatesbacktoherchosencareerfield.
Most of my family served in the military, and Ive seen how thats affected them. Its very much a tight-knit community, she said. Ive grown up going to things like Wounded Warrior Project meetings and helping my mom volunteer as much as I can within the veteran community, so its always been a part of my life.
And then I come here, and as I work more with veteran students, I have been able to see how they transition and try my best to help. . I meet the veterans and hear their stories, and I enjoy doing that.
ShefeelslikewhatshedoesnowattheVeteransAffairsResourceCentermakesadifferenceinpeopleslives.Navigatingbenefitscanbeconfusingandcomplicated,andhelpingothersdosocantranslatetopotentialworkinanursinghome,likenavigatingMedicareandMedicaid.ShealsoparticipatesinvolunteerexperienceswithAdoptBrookings.
Atkinsonsaidmilitaryserviceimpactsentirefamilies,andshesappreciativeoftheValorScholarsprograminassistingthoseaffected.ShereceivedthescholarshipduringherfreshmanyearatSDSUandencouragesotherChapter35studentstoapply.
TheSDStateVeteransAffairsOfficeisinitsthirdoffiveyearsdistributingtheValorPartnersFoundationscholarships,withValorPartnerspayingforhalfofthescholarshipfundingandtheSDSUFoundationraisingmoneyfortheotherhalf.Thisyear,10scholarshipsat$5,000apiecewillbeawardedtoChapter35studentsatSDSU.
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