College of the Canyons is hoping to use Veterans Day to raise awareness about the challenges facing veterans transitioning back to civilian life, as well as numerous on campus resources.

The keynote event, so to speak, is a presentation the day before Veterans Day, a speech by Dr. David Joseph, who specializes in helping veterans transition back to civilian life at a Northern California-based clinic he runs. (The campus is closed Nov. 11 in recognition of the holiday.)

“In creating a climate of wellness for veterans, we’re trying to do two things at once — provide information to staff, students, faculty and the community about veterans and what sorts of things they’re going through and what sorts of things we can do as a community to make them feel OK and to make them feel welcome,” said Larry Schallert, assistant director of the Student Health Center at COC. “And at the same time, we’re trying to teach the veterans how to take advantage of all of the community resources and how to be well.”

Joseph’s talk will focus on the psychologist’s expertise, which is communication regarding the obstacles veterans encounter in civilian life, with an emphasis on the classroom setting.

Before the talk, from 10 a.m. to noon, the campus is also holding a Veterans Resource Fair, that will offer veterans information from universities, agencies looking to hire and organizations offering resources for veterans.

At the Canyon Country campus, the civic engagement club is putting together a visual meant to raise awareness about the need for awareness. Statistics indicate 22 veterans in this country kill themselves every day. The students plan to create a recognition of these avoidable deaths by presenting 22 pairs of boots in an on-campus display from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

There will be social workers available during that time as part of a collaboration between COC and USC’s School of Social Work.

Part of the goal of the informational events and raising awareness is to also eliminate the stigma, Schallert said, because there’s also a high percentage of the population that isn’t affected by TBIs, PTSD, sexual trauma or any other significant injury or trauma from service.

In fact, the most recent estimates put the student population at around 1,100 veterans, according to officials.

“We’re trying to thread the needle of teaching students and faculty and staff,” Schallert said, “as well as being something that veterans can go to and get something from.”