Empowering Youth and Honoring Veterans: Tomah High School's Heartwarming Visit to the VA Medical Center
By Jennifer Conzemius, Chief, VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement
At the start of the school year, Jennifer Conzemius, the chief of the Tomah VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE), reached out to local schools to extend a meaningful volunteer opportunity to students at the Tomah VA Medical Center.
She encouraged teachers, club advisors, and coaches to plan at least one visit to the VA, emphasizing that "Volunteering at the VA Medical Center not only provides invaluable experiences for our Veterans but also offers significant benefits for the youth. It helps them develop empathy, leadership, and communication skills, and fosters a sense of community and civic responsibility."
Responding enthusiastically to this call, Kate Schanhofer, the Tomah High School Cross Country Coach, took advantage of an early dismissal day and a break in their meet schedule to arrange a visit for her team. They went to the VA to facilitate a board and card game group. The visit was perfectly timed to coincide with the school’s homecoming week, themed "Tomah’s ‘Got Game!"
Sporting their “Youth Volunteer in training” badges, 24 student athletes and coaches participated in the visit, engaging inpatient Veterans in various games. They played Checkers, Uno, Blackjack, Sorry, Jenga, Farkle, and Dominos. Throughout these activities, the Veterans and students shared meaningful conversations, with many students receiving valuable life advice from the Veterans. One student even brought along his banjo, providing background music that added to the festive atmosphere.
The positive impact of this visit was clear, with both Veterans and students finding the experience rewarding. Some students even inquired about when they could visit again. We look forward to more visits from Tomah High School, including a scheduled Bingo session with the Interact Club in November.
For more information about individual or group volunteer opportunities at the Tomah VA, please contact the CDCE office at 608-372-1727.