Utah Valley University’s (UVU) Military-Affiliated Student Hub (MASH) will host Veterans Week November 9-13, a full week of events honoring those who have served and bringing together the UVU community and the broader Utah County community. The celebration follows UVU’s recent recognition by U.S. Veterans Magazine as a top veteran school, featured in the magazine’s November 1, 2026, issue.
Veterans Week brings the full scope of that commitment to life. Over the week, faculty, staff, students, and community members are invited to participate in a range of events designed to honor military service and build community across UVU’s campus and Utah County. Events include a blood drive, Veterans Day Brunch featuring a panel discussion on belonging and shared purpose, a Ruck for Gratitude, Health and Wellness Fair, MRE Tasters Table, U.S. Marine Corps Birthday celebration, campus-wide rubber duck hunt, and a clothing drive benefiting neighbors in Utah County. Events are free and open to the public.
MASH supports approximately 1,000 veterans, along with active-duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and more than 1,800 military-connected spouses and children. The hub’s name reflects a deliberate expansion of UVU’s focus beyond veterans alone. Previously known as the Veteran Success Center, the center was renamed to signal a broader commitment to the full military-affiliated community, including students who are currently serving, preparing to serve, or pursuing a degree as part of a military family.
“Veterans Week is one of the highlights of our year because it reflects exactly who we are as a community,” said MASH Director Spencer Ebert. “From the Ruck for Gratitude to the Veterans Day Brunch to the clothing drive, every event is an opportunity for our campus and our neighbors in Utah County to stand alongside the men and women who have served. Being named a top veteran school by U.S. Veterans Magazine is an honor, but what it really represents is the daily work of building a place where veterans, active-duty service members, and their families can find resources, relationships, and a sense of belonging from the moment they arrive at UVU.”
One of MASH’s most distinctive offerings is an on-campus VA clinical psychologist, made possible through a partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Eligible students can access mental health care without leaving campus, removing a barrier that often keeps military-affiliated students from seeking support. UVU also provides Green Zone Training for faculty and staff, equipping the campus community to better understand and serve military-affiliated students. Benefit orientations, peer connections, and dedicated gathering spaces give students additional ways to build relationships and find belonging from the start of their time at UVU.
UVU also supports military-affiliated students through open enrollment, flexible learning options, priority registration, and credit for prior learning. The Normandy Study Abroad program gives ROTC students and others the opportunity to learn and serve beyond campus.
Community extends beyond the classroom as well. Military-affiliated students can participate in the Gunnison Gut Check, a 26-mile backpacking course through the Utah sagebrush landscape held around September 11, in which participants carry packs weighing 35 pounds or more, and a portion of the proceeds supports student scholarships. Through a partnership with UVU’s rodeo team, students can take part in equine therapy, riding instruction, trail rides, and an annual community rodeo. Participants have described these horse-based programs as providing a sense of calm, belonging, and camaraderie. ROTC, the Ruck for Gratitude, military appreciation athletic events, and the MIDAS student organization offer additional ways to connect across backgrounds and generations.
Veterans Week events are free and open to the UVU community and the public. For a full schedule of events and more information about UVU MASH, please visit https://www.uvu.edu/military-affiliated/index.php.
U.S. Veterans Magazine serves veterans, transitioning service members, service-disabled veterans, veteran business owners, and military families by highlighting organizations that demonstrate strong support for the veteran community.
