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August/September 2025

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The Husky Vet Gazette

August/September 2025

Volume 12 – Issue 68

VAMP Visits to Campuses

During the fall semester, our staff from the Office of Veterans and Military Programs (VAMP) will be available for students at each campus – no appointment needed. We hope you will come and join us!

Avery Point – Sept. 16th at 10a.m. to 2p.m., Veterans Lounge, 2nd floor library

Hartford – Oct. 1st at 10a.m. to 3p.m., Hartford Times Bldg. Rm. 216

Waterbury – Oct. 14th at 10a.m. to 3p.m., WREC Rm. 402

Law School – Oct. 15th at 10a.m. to 3p.m., Hosmer Rm. 002

Stamford – Oct. 21st at 10a.m. to 2p.m., Veterans Lounge, Rm. 141

FYE Class for Military-Affiliated Students
Fall 2025 Career Fairs

Dean of Students
Drop-In Hours

First Wednesday of Each Month

1-3 p.m.

Hawley Armory, Room 105

During the Fall 2025 semester, the Dean of Students Office will hold drop-in hours in Hawley Armory (Storrs), so students can drop in without an appointment to ask any questions they may have.

Dates include:
September 3
October 1st
November 5th
December 3rd

POW MIA image on dark background with You are not forgotten written underneath

POW/MIA Service Run

24-HOUR RUN/WALK CARRYING POW/MIA FLAG

When: Sept. 19th to Sept. 20th

Time: 12 p.m. to 12 p.m. the following day

Where: Start – Hawley Armory (Storrs)

Sign Up for the Run
U.S. Flag raised on top of Hawley Armory, the location of UConn's Office of Veterans & Military Programs.

VA Visit

October 7th

10:30a.m. to 1:30p.m.

Hawley Armory Rm. 105 (Storrs)

Do you have VA healthcare or benefits questions? Meet with VA staff to ask about healthcare enrollment, services and resources available, claim questions, file a claim, and more. No appointment needed.

Jared Buchanan at sitting with an energy drink in one hand, at the end of an ultra-thon wearing image of his father on his t-shirt.

Save the Date! Film Screening

Monday, October 6th at 6p.m.

UConn’s Office of Veterans & Military Programs and SHAW is hosting a FREE film screening on-campus of Beautifully Broken.

Please stay tuned for more details and to RSVP.

Meet Our Veterans of the Month

Student Veteran of the Month

Learn More About Olivia Giuffria
Olivia Giuffria standing next to her father in National Guard uniform in front of military aircraft in a hangar.

Employee Veteran of the Month

Learn More About Roger Nadeau
Roger Nadeau in his workspace at UConn, wearing a hat that says Veteran on it.

UConn’s Employee Veteran of the Month

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Roger Nadeau

The Office of Veterans & Military Programs (VAMP) at UConn is pleased to recognize Roger Nadeau as UConn’s Employee Veteran of the Month.  Roger served as an Aviation Electronics Technician, 2nd Class (AT2) from 2001-2006.  During his time in the military, he got to work on some of the most notable military aircraft in the world, F-14 Tomcats with squadron VF-101 Grim Reaper’s, F/A-18 Super Hornets with squadron VFA-106 Gladiator’s, and SH-60B Seahawk Helicopters with squadron HSL-44 Swamp Fox.  He was honored as VF-101 Plane Captain of the year and got to fly a T-34 plane. 

Roger was hired at UConn as a Power Plant Operator, and soon after as an Electronics Technician at the Cogeneration Plant.  He says that he has been able to do what he loves for nearly 20 years:  working with electronics, troubleshooting, programming, calibrating.  Nearly 8 years ago, Roger and one of his co-workers started UConn’s Metering Department where they design and build electronics that help monitor energy usage and collect data UConn.  Roger also programs graphical interfaces to allow us to see the data and report it so that everyone can see how efficient the university is doing, helping to achieve the University’s goals.

Roger’s advice to his colleagues and students on-campus, and in recognition of the recent Mental Health awareness month, and his own struggles through life, he says “that one way or another, we are all here, together, striving to make the best of our futures;  we all experience highs and lows in life, and at times we may need a helping hand to get back up.  Mental health can be debilitating at times, and sometimes we need to talk to someone about our struggles.  The tools you’ll get to help yourself, can very well lead you to helping someone else in need.”   

If you would like to nominate a student, faculty, or staff member for “Veteran of the Month,” please contact Nikki Eberly at with the name of the person and reasons for your nomination.

UConn’s Student Veteran of the Month

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Olivia Giuffria

The Office of Veterans & Military Programs (VAMP) at UConn is pleased to recognize Olivia Giuffria as UConn’s Student Veteran of the Month.  Olivia is a member of the Air National Guard in Health Management Administration (4A0X1) within the 103rd Medical Group. Her additional duties include CPR instructor and CUI manager in addition to being a functional training manager for her section where she oversees the education and training. She enlisted in January 2021 and was just promoted to Staff Sergeant. Olivia’s dad is an Air Force veteran, and her brother is also active-duty Air Force, so it’s a great experience bringing her family to promotions and other family-oriented events for the military.

One of her most memorable experiences was going to Okinawa, Japan for AT in September 2024 where she trained & shadowed at the naval hospital for 3 weeks, learning how the different services work together and see how a military hospital works. On the way to/from Japan they also stopped in Alaska and Seattle and had the opportunity to explore those places too.

Olivia came to UConn in January 2022 after coming home from initial bootcamp/tech school training. She started on the pre-med track as a Physiology & Neurobiology student, but last year she realized that she wanted to do nursing.  So, she applied to the Nursing program, got in, and is now a nursing student set to graduate in 2027! Her goal is to become an ICU nurse and commission as a nurse into the Air Force and join the Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT). She currently works as a patient care technician at Hartford Hospital in the Neuro-Trauma ICU to gain experience. Besides her academic goals, Olivia wants to get out of her comfort zone and build close relationships. Over the past few years, she shares that it’s been important to join different clubs and get involved, to meet new people and build friendships. One of Olivia’s favorite parts about being a UConn student is going to the sports games and working as an RA. She loves putting on events for her residents and making different goodies for them such as treats or goodie bags to help build community and foster friendships. She has also met amazing people within the different RA staffs which has been amazing.

One piece of advice Olivia would give to fellow students is “to not be afraid to change paths mid college and to reach out if you need help. College is not easy, but there are so many great resources available to us that can make our life a little easier! Choosing a career path can also be very intimidating and challenging, so don’t be afraid to switch majors or paths if you feel that is right for you. It is better to get a degree in something you know will be right for you, even if it takes a little bit more time.”

If you would like to nominate a student, faculty, or staff member for “Veteran of the Month,” please contact Nikki Eberly at with the name of the person and reasons for your nomination.