Concord earns Purple Star Award, other honors for serving military-connected students

PRESS RELEASE

ATHENS, WV — Concord University has been named one of West Virginia’s first Purple Star Award recipients at the  post-secondary level, honoring the institution’s commitment to serving military-connected students and families. 

While the Office of Veterans Education and Training (OVET) has previously awarded Purple Star designations to K– 12 schools across the state, 2026 marks the inaugural class of colleges and universities to receive the recognition. 

The designation establishes a statewide standard for supporting military-affiliated students and reflects Concord’s  commitment to easing the transition into higher education for veterans, active-duty service members, reservists,  and their families. 

“We’re very proud of our veterans at Concord, where our motto is ‘Come to Learn, Go to Serve.’ Our veterans have  already sacrificed their time and given more than most of us can comprehend to serve. Now, they are coming to  learn, and we could not more pleased that they’ve selected Concord to complete their education and build the rest  of their careers,” Concord President Bethany Meighen said. “The fact that OVET has named Concord a Purple Star  facility is a sign that we are successfully building a welcoming environment to serve these veterans and their  families. That has been and will remain a primary goal at CU.” 

CU Veterans Affairs Director George Williams said the honor reflects Concord’s longstanding commitment to  serving veterans and their families.

“We work very hard to create an environment and community where veterans find individualized support, along  with strong faculty and staff relationships, dedicated veteran spaces, peer connections, and programs designed to  help them successfully transition from military service to higher education and civilian careers,” he said. “As a  smaller institution, we’re able to provide a level of personal attention that many veterans value.” 

According to OVET, Purple Star facilities must demonstrate support for military-connected students through  initiatives including: 

• Assigned points of contact to provide guidance and support throughout students’ academic journeys • Dedicated resources and transition support for military-connected students and families • Participation in Purple Up Day each April to recognize the strength and resiliency of military children • Collaboration with Military Family Points of Contact to share professional development opportunities,  best practices, and supportive programming statewide 

The program is part of a statewide effort led through initiatives such as the West Virginia Department of Education  and the Common Ground Partnership, recognizing the sacrifices military families make in service to the nation. 

“Recognitions such as the Purple Star facility reflect a culture that has been built here over time. Our faculty, staff,  and administration have consistently demonstrated a commitment to student veterans and their families, and I  believe that commitment is one of the reasons veterans continue to choose Concord,” Williams said. 

The Purple Star is not the only recognition that Concord University goes above and beyond to serve veterans and  their families. CU has also been named a 2026-27 Military Support College of Distinction. To view the CU profile  online, visit https://collegesofdistinction.com/school/concord-university/. 

CU also made the list of Yellow Ribbon schools in U.S. Veterans Magazine, which provides a trusted resource for  service men and women navigating next steps beyond the military. The magazine’s research team delves into a  formal survey, along with public records, interviews, reader feedback, press coverage, and presence at veteran focused events to determine which organizations work to serve veterans and their families. 

This listing marks a return trip to the Top Yellow Ribbon Schools ranking. To view the full 2025 lineup,  visit https://usveteransmagazine.com/colleges-universities. The 2026 listing will be available online Sept. 1. 

-CU 

Persons with disabilities should contact Nancy Ellison, 1-304-384-6086 or 1-800-344-6679 ext. 6086, if special  assistance is required for access to an event scheduled by the University on campus. Concord University may take  pictures at these events for publicity purposes.