Two indoor events with audiences seated, separated by a wave graphic and the word 'WAVES'.

Agenda (Tentative)

Monday, July 20, 2026

1:00 – 5:00 PM

Registration (Beachwood/Runyon/Laurel)

6:30 – 8:00 PM

Welcome Reception (Pool Deck)

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

7:00 – 5:00 PM

Registration (Beachwood/Runyon/Laurel)

7:00 – 8:30 AM

Breakfast Refreshments (Ray Dolby Salon 4-6)

8:30 – 9:00 AM

WAVES Welcome (Ray Dolby Salon 1-3)
Jason Garcia, WAVES President

Honor Guard
American Legion

Star-Spangled Banner
Jessica Young, Program Manager, The Los Angeles Film School

Pledge of Allegiance
Darcy Schnuth, WAVES 1st Vice President

Introductions: WAVES Board, VA & SAA Presenters
(General Session)

9:00 – 10:00 AM

NASAA Update and Introductions (Ray Dolby Salon 1-3)
Rebecca Ryan, NASAA President
(General Session)

10:00 – 10:30 AM

Break & Resource Fair (Mezzanine Level)

10:30 – 12:00 PM

(Breakout Sessions) 

New SCO Training* (Ray Dolby Salon 1-3)
Edgar Ford, Education Liaison Representative

SCO Training Requirements* (Studio A-B)
Ramon Torry, Education Liaison Representative

Vocational Flight Programs* (Studio C)
Tina Keeter, Chief Education Liaison Officer

12:00 – 1:30 PM

Lunch on your own

1:30 – 2:30 PM

Catalog Submissions & Review Process: Institutions Perspectives (Ray Dolby Salon 1-3)
Everette Jackson, NASAA East Region Vice President
(General Session)

2:30 – 3:00 PM

3:00 – 4:00 PM

Refreshment Break (Mezzanine Level)

(Breakout Sessions) 

Preventing Homelessness Among Student Veterans (Studio A-B)
Eddie Boquilla, Veteran Support Specialist, USVETS Phoenix

Out of Uniform, Into the Interview: Closing the First-Impression Gap for Transitioning Veterans (Studio C)
Rahul Jinda, MyCareerCloset

Lights, Camera, Credit! Advancing Veteran Student Success Through JST and CPL (Studio D-E)
Calvin Klein Gloria, Director of Military CPL Pathways, Riverside Community College

4:00 – 5:00 PM

State Breakout Sessions 

CSAAVE (Ray Dolby Salon 1-3)

TBD (Studio A-B)

TBD (Studio C)

6:30 – 10:00 PM

Teambuilding Activity – 90’s Dance Party (Ray Dolby Salon 4-6)

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

7:00 - 12:00 PM

Registration (Beachwood/Runyon/Laurel)

7:00 – 8:30 AM

Breakfast Refreshments (Ray Dolby Salon 4-6)

8:30 – 9:30 AM

Student Veterans of America (Ray Dolby Salon 1-3)
Cory Boatwright, SVA National President
(General Session)

9:30 – 10:30 AM

Federal Updates (Ray Dolby Salon 1-3)
Kenneth Smith, Executive Director, Education Service, DVA
(General Session)

10:30 – 11:00 AM

Break & Resource Fair (Mezzanine Level)

11:00 – 12:00 PM

85/15 Requirements* (Ray Dolby Salon 1-3)
Glen Pena, Supervisor Approvals Compliance & Liaison

12:00 – 1:30 PM

Lunch on your own

1:30 – 3:00 PM

(Breakout Sessions) 

Enrollment Manager* (Ray Dolby Salon 1-3)
Adrian Ramirez, Education Liaison Representative

Yellow Ribbon Programs* (Studio A-B)
Rogelio Garcia, Education Liaison Representative

Compliance Surveys* (Studio C)
Glen Pena, Supervisor Approvals Compliance & Liaison, and Tina Keeter, Chief Education Liaison Office

3:00 – 3:30 PM

Refreshment Break (Mezzanine Level)

3:30 – 5:00 PM

(Breakout Sessions) 

The Hidden Curriculum: Closing the Civilian Career Etiquette Gap for Student (Studio A-B)
Rahul Jinda, MyCareerCloset

Bridging the Gap: Managing VA Educational Benefits and Financial Aid for Student Success (Studio C)
Dr. Takesha McMiller, Northern Virginia Community College

TBD (Studio D-E)
Kathy Snyder, Director NM State Approving Agency

6:30 – 8:30 PM

SCO Banquet & Awards Dinner – Masquerade Ball (Ray Dolby Salon 3-6)

Thursday, July 23, 2026

7:00 – 8:00 AM

Breakfast Refreshments (Ray Dolby Salon 4-6)

8:00 – 8:30 AM

WAVES Business Meeting (Ray Dolby Salon 1-3)
Jason Garcia, WAVES President
(General Session)

8:30 – 10:00 AM

Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) (Ray Dolby Salon 1-3)
Chantile Stovall, Acting Executive Director of VR&E
(General Session)

10:00 – 10:30 AM

Break & Resource Fair (Mezzanine Level)

10:30 - 12:00 PM

Debt Management Center* (Ray Dolby Salon 1-3)
Julie Lawrence, Chief of Operations, Veterans Resolution Division
(General Session)

12:00 – 1:30 PM

Lunch on your own

1:30 – 3:00 PM

(Breakout Sessions) 

Non-College Degree Programs* (Ray Dolby Salon 1-3)
Adrian Ramirez, Education Liaison Representative

Work Study Programs* (Studio A-B)
Jose Gutierez, Education Liaison Representative

SVA Chapter Growth and Government Affairs (Studio C)
Student Veterans of America: Faisal Sulman and Jacelynmarie Achiu

3:00 – 3:30 PM

Refreshment Break (Mezzanine Level)

3:30 – 5:00 PM

(Breakout Sessions) 

Compliance with Confidence: A Practical Compliance Readiness Framework for SCOs (Studio A-B)
Vannessa Haydee Weber, Veracity Research Solutions

The AI-Powered SCO: Using NotebookLM and Gemini Gems for Efficiency and Accuracy (Studio C)
Ross Atkinson, Ph.D, Veteran Services Program, Aims Community College

From Confusion to Clarity: Simplifying VA Benefits Communication (Studio D-E)
Chassidy Jackson, Director of Military and Adult Education, Albany State University

Call for Proposal: TBD (Solano)

* SESSIONS COUNT TOWARD THE VA'S SCO ANNUAL TRAINING REQUIREMENT AND WILL BE AVAILABLE TO CERTIFY VIA THE SCO TRAINING PORTAL POST CONFERENCE.

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