 | ThanksUSA has officially launched its Alumni & Friends website and directory. Alumni & Friends was developed to support and connect the growing number of ThanksUSA scholars as they pursue careers after graduation. Benefits of the group will include exclusive networking events, a private discussion forum, and access to the alumni directory. Click here to activate your ThanksUSA Alumni account using your email address. We understand that email addresses change over the years, so if you have difficulty activating your account through the provided link, please email: sherrykoch@thanksusa.org Now, please meet the President and Vice President of ThanksUSA Alumni & Friends: |
| ThanksUSA Alumni & Friends President Jennifer Benecke 2011 ThanksUSA Scholarship Recipient  |
| Hi, my name is Jennifer Benecke. I am a military spouse whose husband has been serving in the US Navy for the last 18 years. We have an 11 year old son and are expecting a daughter this summer. I have had the pleasure and opportunity to serve as an Ombudsman and President for the FRG for my husband's commands. I graduated in 2012 from the University of Maryland with my BS in Psychology. I am currently working on my Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling specializing on military families and culture. I believe that it is vital to help out ThanksUSA and build a community within the scholarship recipients because it is an important way of giving back and it is also an amazing tool for the scholarship recipients to help one another. ThanksUSA Alumni & Friends Vice President Geri Lynn Maples 2010 and 2011 ThanksUSA Scholarship Recipient  Hello, my name is Geri Lynn and I am the spouse of a Disabled Veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I am also a graduate of Miami University and Liberty University. In 2012, I graduated from Miami University with a Bachelor in Integrative Studies focus on Applied Sociology & Family, Gender, and Society with a minor in Communications. I went on to Liberty University in 2014 and obtained my Masters of Arts Degree in Human Service Counseling Military Resilience. Today, I am a Ph.D. student at Union Institute & University, working towards a Doctorate in Educational Studies. My plan is to develop a model that will educate teachers on Military Culture and raise awareness of the challenges our military children face when their parents suffer injuries -- both visible and invisible. I am also a recipient of the ThanksUSA Scholarship and I understand the need for this scholarship within our military families. I want to stay involved so that I can continue to give back to our military families. Currently, I am the Veteran Service Coordinator with Union Institute & University and I work every day servicing our veterans and their families. By remaining involved with ThanksUSA, I am able to help promote this scholarship to military families in need. Activate your personal ThanksUSA Alumni profile to begin using this valuable networking resource. Interested in becoming a ThanksUSA Alumni & Friends officer? Jennifer and Geri Lynn would love your help -- just email ThanksUSA's Program Manager at sherrykoch@thanksusa.org for more info! |
