Friday, March 6, 2026
The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
Lifestyles

Student groups raise more than $1k for vets

T.J. Thomson
"The CSC Birds" served as the entertainment for the Helping a Hero program Friday night, playing smooth jazz music and belting out get-on-your-feet lyrics. — Photos by T.J. Thomson
“The CSC Birds” served as the entertainment for the Helping a Hero program Friday night, playing smooth jazz music and belting out get-on-your-feet lyrics. — Photos by T.J. Thomson

The seductive notes of a jazz riff wafted through the Student Center’s ballroom Friday evening as about 100 people gathered to support the region’s military through the second-annual “Helping a Hero” veterans ball.

The event, “Helping a Hero,” is in its second year and is once again sponsored by two of Chadron State’s student organizations–the Public Relations and War Eagles clubs.

During the event, participants raised $1,282 for the Womens’ Auxiliary and American Legion organizations.

‘The CSC Birds” music ensemble provided intermittent accompaniment for a series of dances that occurred throughout the evening. These dances were interspersed among three speeches delivered by veterans and a date or work auction from a pool of 20 ROTC cadets.

Patrick Russell, of Hot Springs, S.D., a veteran from the special forces medic in Okinawa, talks about the "Save the VA" program going on in Hot Springs, S.D. during the Helping a Hero program, Friday in the Student Center Ballroom. — Photo by Ashley Swanson
Patrick Russell, of Hot Springs, S.D., a veteran from the special forces medic in Okinawa, talks about the “Save the VA” program going on in Hot Springs, S.D. during the Helping a Hero program, Friday in the Student Center Ballroom. — Photo by Ashley Swanson

“With us being one of the nation’s most military-friendly schools, it [the event] gives us an opportunity to give back,” Shaunda French, Public Relations Club sponsor, said Tuesday.

Public Relations Club President Tiffany Valandra,29, sophomore of Hardin, Mont., said Wednesday that the club decided to donate event proceeds to charity as a way to physically help, rather than simply show their support.

“We wanted to be able to support veterans in addition to appreciating them,” Valandra said.