Marine veteran who survived captivity in Colombia jungle headlines Aug. 16 MTSU Veteran Impact Celebration

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — U.S. Marine veteran Keith D. Stansell, co-author of “Out of Captivity: Surviving 1,967 Days in the Colombian Jungle,” will be the keynote speaker for the seventh annual Veteran Impact Celebration starting at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, in the Middle Tennessee State University Student Union Ballroom.

Tickets to the event, which is a fundraiser for the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center, will remain available until Friday, Aug. 9, organizers said. View ticket information at www.mtsu.edu/veteranimpact. The event is open to the public.

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Huber, senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives at Middle Tennessee State University, gives opening remarks at the annual Veteran Impact Celebration held in November 2021 at the Student Union Ballroom on the Middle Tennessee State University campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. This year's celebration will be Friday, Aug. 16, in the ballroom, with proceeds benefiting the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center. (MTSU file photo by James Cessna) — Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Huber, senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives at Middle Tennessee State University, gives opening remarks at the annual Veteran Impact Celebration held in November 2021 at the Student Union Ballroom on the Middle Tennessee State University campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. This year’s celebration will be Friday, Aug. 16, in the ballroom, with proceeds benefiting the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center. (MTSU file photo by James Cessna)

“Our Veteran Impact Celebration is an evening of recognition and appreciation,” said Keith M. Huber, senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives at MTSU and a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general with 38 years of service. “Our attending veterans and their families will recognize the invaluable and impressive support of our community during their transition challenges.

“Our community and business leaders will recognize the significant positive impact of veterans joining their organizations.

“For me personally, I remain ever thankful for the unparalleled support provided by MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee as we serve veterans and their families worldwide without any required affiliation with MTSU. If you have a question or have a need for assistance, we will help you.”

MTSU alumna, Nashville native and News4 WSMV-TV morning anchor Holly Thompson emcees the fourth annual Veteran Impact Celebration held Tuesday, Nov. 2, at the Student Union Ballroom at Middle Tennessee State University. Proceeds from the event benefit MTSU’s Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center. (MTSU photo by James Cessna) — Holly Thompson, MTSU alumna, Nashville native and WSMV-TV News 4 morning anchor, emcees the annual Veteran Impact Celebration held in November 2021 at the Student Union Ballroom at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn. She will again be master of ceremonies at the Friday, Aug. 16, celebration in the ballroom, and the public is invited. (MTSU file photo by James Cessna)

Holly Thompson, an MTSU alumna and WSMV-TV News 4 morning anchor in Nashville, will again be master of ceremonies.

In addition to MTSU, the event is brought by USAA and other sponsors.

About the Daniels Center

The Daniels Center is one of the largest and is the most comprehensive veterans center on any Tennessee higher education campus. It enables the campus’ 1,200-plus military-connected student population to have a one-stop shop to meet a variety of academic and social needs.

The 3,200-square-foot center is located in the Keathley University Center, in the heart of the MTSU campus. The center is a place for MTSU’s student veterans to study, gather and receive help from fellow veterans, who will serve as peer advisers and sponsors. The Transition Home Center assists any veteran, service member, or military-connected family member — in making the transition from military service to the civilian world.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)