Collegian T he Cameron University
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Monday, November 10, 2025
Volume 113 Issue 7
Lifetime Achievement Award
VICKI
HENSON
YEARS OF SERVING
Amanda Purser
Cameron community, Henson has served in multiple leadership roles and Managing Editor other positions within several veteran adjacent organizations across the state of Oklahoma. For nearly four complete decades, Henson was the President of the Vicki Henson has served the Cameron Oklahoma Association of Veteran community, focusing her energy on Coordinators and Counselors, as well veterans and service members from the as the Western Association of Veteran very beginning. Education Specialists (WAVES). Henson applied and interviewed “The Western Association of Veteran for a position as Veterans Coordinator Education Specialists originally started in 1986 while working as an as a regional organization with 12 administrative assistant at Oklahoma states, and then it went to 28 states,” State University (OSU). Henson said. “I was President of it “Specifically, my education was twice, and it went National in my geared toward working in higher leadership role.” education,” Henson said. “I moved to Henson explained that WAVES is a Lawton for the position, that’s when I partnership between the Federal VA, started working with veterans and fell state approving agencies, and the school in love with it.” certifying officials, with a vision of Henson completed her undergraduate collaboration and ultimate customer degrees earning an Associate from service. Murray State, and a Bachelor from “The goal is to share expertise with Oklahoma State University (OSU), before working on her graduate degree in Higher Education Administration, also at OSU. “I’ve always been the Coordinator of Veteran Affairs — my title has changed a few times over the years,” Henson said. She was initially under the Admissions and Registrar office, as Assistant Director of Records and Coordinator of Veteran Affairs. Then, she became the Assistant Director of Admissions and Coordinator of Veterans Affairs after a reorganization of departments. After the last reorganization, Henson became the Assistant Director of Financial Assistance and Coordinator of Veteran Affairs, which is her current title. The Veteran Affairs office falls under Financial Assistance at Cameron, and while they work closely together, they each other so that we can better serve adhere to different guidelines. our institutions, the veterans and active “The department of Financial military populations,” she said. Assistance is regulated by the The Oklahoma Association of Department of Education,” Henson Veteran Coordinators and Counselors said. “Whereas the VA office responds changed names a few years ago to the to what the regulations are for the current title of Oklahoma Veterans Department of Veteran Affairs. We Education Specialist Association intertwine and operate as one big unit.” (OVESA), but has remained virtually Cameron’s campus is nestled in the same organization. Southwest Oklahoma near Fort Sill, “I’ve been President of that group one of the largest artillery and air four different times over the years,” defense army bases in the nation. Henson said. Their collaboration and commitment OVESA recently awarded Henson to bolster the Aggie’s efforts, never go with the Francie Wright Lifetime unnoticed. “We have fantastic local community Achievement Award, for her dedication and service at the Oklahoma Higher support of the veteran organizations, and the military support that we receive Education Super Conference, for which Henson served as a member of the from Fort Sill,” Henson said. “So, it’s logistical team to coordinate the major made a unique opportunity to be able two day event, held on Oct. 6 and 7, to provide services to our campus community, and constituents, and offer 2025. “Other people did more than I did, a variety of services that are unique in but I did play a role in supporting that the state of Oklahoma.” conference,” Henson said, “and it’s the Aside from her dedication to the first time that we have brought together
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the different entities in the State of Veteran’s Day observance ceremony. Oklahoma, like the business officers, The Cameron VA conducts these the advisors, the college registrars’ events to help to share information and organization, the financial aid, the ones make both students and the local larger who process veteran benefits in higher veteran and active military community education.” aware of the vast array of benefits. “We had over 400 attendees at that “I encourage people to come, conference, so it was very successful,” because even though we offer the fair Henson said. regularly, it’s an ever-changing group The current OVESA President, of individuals, and information, and the Angela Coleman, presented Henson laws are constantly changing,” Henson with the award on Oct. 7, at the super said. “Benefits are not stagnant, they conference. are always changing. So, it’s always “Henson has been a steadfast important to come take advantage, advocate for military-affiliated students and see what we might have to offer, at Cameron University, dedicating 39 because it can make a difference.” years to supporting veterans, activeHenson’s impact on the Cameron duty service members, and military community has undoubtedly made a dependents,” Coleman said. “Vicki difference, as evident by the success has guided countless students toward of our veteran students and service achieving their educational and career members, in part from the VA office on goals, helping them navigate the path campus and resources they consistently to degree completion with care and provide. expertise.” “I’ve had individuals come to me Henson was honored to after some of these events, and tell me receive this acknowledgment, that literally they have changed their especially because of the lives,” Henson said. “They were able to special woman from which get a disability rating increase because the award gets its title. they came to an event that we offered “It’s named after and were able to get something done Francie Wright, who was within a day.” the first education chief at Henson acknowledged that her the Muskogee VA office,” office’s ability to communicate with Henson said. “She is an the Federal VA is impacted just as it is exceptional person in for students, due to the current federal providing customer service furlough. and always striving to think However, they are still working outside the box, and to look to assist and connect students with for ways to better improve resources for continued success until services, and what we’re the federal government reopens. doing for our constituents.” “This is a challenging time for all Henson added, “It’s all of our students; we encourage them about working together to contact us and let us know if they collaboratively, in are having difficulties, and we will do partnership to be able to our best to work with them on a caseimprove and offer the best by-case basis, depending on what the services possible to our challenge is,” she said. veterans, and the heart of that award is Henson’s best advice to students is to be awarded to people who share that to enroll in classes for Spring '26 as vision.” soon as possible, so that they can submit This isn’t Henson’s first significant claims, and give the Federal VA a little recognition for her efforts; she was the more time to process those claims. recipient of the Bill Pearson Lifetime “Because, I’m hopeful that Achievement Award in the past, which everything will be back to normal by was another great honor by a pioneer in the time we get ready to start in the her field. spring,” Henson said. “Bill Pearson was one of the Henson has no plans to slow down Regional Office Directors for or retire anytime soon, even after four Muskogee,” Henson said. “He also went decades, and her vast career of service on to be the only one from Oklahoma to to our community and state, she has be Deputy Under Secretary for Veterans more to accomplish and assist with. Benefits, which was the highest civil “I’m continuing to work at this service position that is not a political time. I love my veterans, and I love appointee. He did amazing things our community; we’re blessed to have for our veterans and had an amazing a very special community in Lawtonphilosophy in that he worked to bring Fort Sill. So, at this point I am just all the different entities together to work enjoying serving our veterans and our in partnership.” community.” Henson’s busiest time of year is For more information on available during Fall, specifically in November resources or to learn about utilizing VA around Veteran’s Day and the many education benefits, email the Cameron events she and her team coordinate such VA office at va@cameron.edu or call as the Resource Fair, Vet Fest and the 580-581-2301.
“Benefits are not stagnant, they are always changing. So, it’s always important to come take advantage, and see what we might have to offer, because it can make a difference.”
- Vicki Henson Coordinator of Veteran Affairs
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