Mike Rials BS’12, MS’17 was one of the student veterans who pushed for an office that would help them with their benefits and provide other services. Yolandé Evans, who now serves as assistant vice president for student transition initiatives at UTD, played a key role in getting the center started. The Veteran Services Center, as it was first called, officially opened in the Eugene McDermott Library on Sept. 14, 2012. He took on the task of connecting with student veterans and encouraging them to take advantage of the center’s services. PAVE matches new student veterans with peer advisors, while Green Zone training aims to establish a University-wide network of staff and faculty who shape a veteran-inclusive campus culture.