Northern Kentucky University is once again rated as one of the best universities for veterans, according to the 2021 Best for Vets: Colleges ratings.
The Best for Vets: Colleges 2021 Ranking evaluated hundreds of institutions across the country on university culture, student support, academic policies, academic outcomes, cost and financial aid. This is NKU’s eighth straight year being nationally ranked by Military Times, and it is the only Greater Cincinnati educational institution to make the Top 100.
“Being listed as a top-rated university for veterans is a tremendous honor as it recognizes all the hard work and dedication of NKU’s faculty, staff and students,” Rusty Mardis, coordinator of the NKU Veterans Resource Station, said. “It showcases the university’s commitment to support, provide programs and offer top-tier services to veterans. The Veterans Resource Station is here to guide, mentor and/or be a champion in their success for all our military affiliate, veteran and ROTC students.”
This comes as the NKU Veterans Resource Station is set to host a Veterans Day flag raising and wreath laying celebration and remembrance that will take place at 2 p.m. on the plaza outside of Steely Library and Founders Hall on Nov. 11.
NKU will welcome back alumnus and Vietnam War veteran Bob Barth (’73) for a reading of his literary poems as part of the Veterans Day events on campus.
Barth will be reading from his latest book of poetry “Learning War: Selected Vietnam War Poems” in Steely Library’s Farris Reading Room at 4 p.m., which will be followed up by a question-and-answer session. There will also be an archive display, featuring manuscript revisions and publications by Barth, as well as the engraved cup Barth received as the winner of the 1973 Bill Byron Award, recognizing an outstanding student in the English Department. The display is located on the first floor of Steely Library in NKU’s Special Collections and University Archives.
Bob Barth
As part of the Veterans Day events, a reception in the Farris Reading Room will honor Barth before the reading, and he will also visit a Poetry Writing class earlier in the day.
“Given my subject matter, the Vietnam War, I have always wanted to give a reading on Veterans Day. NKU is giving me the opportunity at last to do so,” Barth said. “I’m not only excited to be giving a Veterans Day reading, but giving it at NKU, where I began my literary studies, started writing, and had the good fortune to have studied with some excellent, inspiring teachers, makes this reading feel like, after nearly 50 years, I’m coming full circle.”
After returning home in spring of 1969 from a 13-month tour as a U.S. Marine in Vietnam, Barth enrolled at then-Northern Community College (which became Northern Kentucky State College the following year), graduating cum laude with a B.A. in English. Barth was part of the first graduating class from the Highlands Heights campus in 1973. The college reached university status and became known as Northern Kentucky University in 1976.
In 1985, Barth published his first book of poems, “Looking for Peace.” That was followed by “A Soldier’s Time, Vietnam War Poems” in 1987. His third poetry book, “Deeply Dug In,” was published in 2003. Barth published a fourth book in 2016, titled “No Turning Back: The Battle of Dien Bien Phu.”
“A poem is a statement about human experience in words deployed in meters and lines,” Barth said. “Additionally, it is a technique on contemplation as a means to evaluate that experience.”
The full schedule of Veterans Day events include:
Flag Raising and Wreath Laying Ceremony
• 2 p.m. at Flagpole on plaza near Steely Library and Founders Hall
• Veterans Resource Station honors the legacy of those who have fought for our nation’s freedom. The ceremony will include a flag raising and wreath laying ceremony, a performance from the Northerner Chorale, remarks from President Ashish Vaidya, and an awards ceremony recognizing faculty, staff and students to provided, facilitated or coordinated program(s) and/or service that increase the likelihood of educational success for veterans, service members and/or their families.
Bob Barth (’73) reading works from “Learning War: Selected Vietnam Poems”
• 4 p.m. in Farris Reading Room at Steely Library
• Poet and NKU alum Bob Barth will read works from his latest book of poetry,
followed by a question-and-answer session.
Barth and guests visit archive display of selected manuscripts
• 5:15 p.m. at NKU University Archives and Special Collections at Steely Library
• Items and collections of Bob Barth’s literary work will be on display for guests
and patrons to view.
To learn more about resources and services available on campus for veterans and military personnel, visit the Veteran Resource Station at nku.edu/veterans.
Northern Kentucky University
