FSU program helps disabled vets find jobs
Andrew Wyatt had a passion for entrepreneurship.
The 29-year old North Carolina State graduate had long envisioned the career ahead of him but, while serving as an infantry platoon leader in Northern Iraq in early 2008, Wyatt’s dreams were put on hold.
An Improvised Explosive Device went off. The blast crushed the nerves in Wyatt’s upper neck. He was medevaced, first to Germany, then to Walter Reid Army Hospital, where he remains.
But over the summer, a Florida State University professor helped put Wyatt’s dreams back on the map.
Wyatt was one of 15 disabled veterans to attend an entrepreneurship boot camp for veterans with disabilities held on the FSU campus.
“I heard about this program at morning formation and thought, ‘that’s for me,’” said Wyatt, who, with help from friends at John Hopkins University, is building a medical spa which would provide non-invasive surgery. Wyatt credits his success to FSU.
The program at FSU was actually born at Syracuse University where a colleague of FSU professor Randy Blass works.
“I went up there and they had this amazing program so when I came back I asked the dean of business if we could do something like that here at FSU. He said, ‘sure, if you can fund it,’” said Blass, who teaches in FSU’s college of business and retired from the Air Force.
Not only did Blass raise enough money to fund the program, he raised enough to do it in style. The veterans were flown in free of charge, treated to steak dinners and carted around by limousine.
“We could have shoved them all in a dorm room but we wanted to treat them like we would an entrepreneur. These people have made sacrifices and we wanted to be able to give a little bit back,” said Blass.
“It’s not an easy transition from the military to the civilian world and for those with disabilities, it’s even tougher.”
The program, which is open to all military veterans who have sustained service connected disabilities dating back to Sept. 11, 2001, begins with three weeks of online tutorship and culminates with a nine-day intensive, on-campus workshop during which time guest speakers from around the country give lessons on entrepreneurship.
The program, which has now expanded to other universities, offers the added benefit of teaching undergraduate FSU students about what Blass calls, “social entrepreneurship.”
FSU undergraduates get the chance to assist in every aspect of the program, from booking plane tickets to helping the veterans through courses.
“It lets them know that there’s more to business than just making money. That you can help people too.”
Fund raising for the 2009 disabled veterans entrepreneurship boot camp is ongoing. According to Blass they are about halfway to their goal. Anyone interested in pledging support can contact Dr. Randy Blass at, rblass@cob.fsu.edu or at 850-644-7859.
Friday, December 26, 2008
FSU program helps disabled vets find jobs
