Saddleback College student and Army veteran Ann Reeder was named AMVET of the Year for her work at the college’s Veterans Education and Transition Services (VETS) Program along with her advocacy for female veterans and volunteerism at the Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Hospital. Reeder, a full-time student pursing an Associate Degrees in Drug and Alcohol Studies and Women’s Studies, is the first African American Woman to win this award.
AMVETS is a veterans’ service organization that assists veterans and sponsoring numerous programs that serve our country and its citizens. The group is a major donor of the VETS Program. The AMVET of the Year award is given to a veteran who has gone above and beyond through leadership, achievements and carried the mission of AMVETS. Reeder serves as AMVETS Post 116 2nd Vice Commander, Women Veterans Coordinator and Founder/Director of the Women Veterans Esteem.
“Saddleback College is strongly committed to supporting our student veterans and their families,” said Dr. Tod A. Burnett, college president. “Ann Reeder is a wonderful example of how our students and staff take great pride in creating effective programs to help veterans transition from military service to civilian life.”
Reeder established the Saddleback College Female Veterans Unity Group which meets each month to help ease the transition to civilian life for female veterans, spouses of veterans, and family members. She secured Talbots gift cards through Maria Schriver’s “We Support” program for female OIF/OEF veterans and distributed them to group so they would be able to purchase new profession attire for entering the civilian workforce.
The Saddleback College VETS program provides current and prospective Saddleback College students who are United States military veterans or active military, and their families with access to educational opportunities and the necessary support services to reach academic success, their career goals, and transition back into civilian life.
