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Student Round-Up celebrates new school year, new students

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Shelby Kay-Fantozzi
  • 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Days before the new academic year began in surrounding school districts, children of Cannon’s Air Commandos had the chance to learn about the base and make new friends at the second annual Student Connections Round-Up Aug.13.

“The overarching goal of the day was to connect students new to Cannon with established students,” said Lori Dunn, 27th Special Operations Force Support Squadron school liaison officer. “Kids who attended the round-up could make friends, ask each other questions and ultimately ease anxieties about the upcoming school year.”

While the objectives of the event were consistent with last year’s, the day’s format was revamped to include a wider variety of activities for the students in attendance.

“We made room for more hands-on workshops and added bowling so there was a chance to just have really informal fun together,” Dunn said. “We also broke students up into smaller groups so they could make stronger connections with each other.”

Some workshops were based on interests that Dunn had discovered over a year’s worth of student military support group meetings, like a military saves workshop that captured students’ attention with strategies for saving their money.

More workshops taught by volunteers including nutrition, mindfulness and yoga, emphasized a well-rounded approach to a happy and healthy school year for Cannon’s youngest Air Commandos.

The day also included a mission brief by Col. Ben Maitre, 27th Special Operations Wing commander who reminded students that their best resource is each other.

“When your mom or dad moves to a new base, they have sponsors who can show them the ropes and answer their questions,” Maitre told students. “Today, those of you who have been at Cannon a little while can help can all help each other the same way. I bet someone sitting near you has the same questions you had when you got here a year or two ago.”

Dunn stated the event also served as a kickoff for upcoming education initiatives like the FIRST Lego League, a Lego robotics competition that teaches students science and technology concepts, and the student-to-student program, a support network that connects new students to a an experienced peer. This year the program has expanded from four schools to eight, ranging from elementary to high school-aged students.

The upcoming projects will be yet another assurance that Cannon and Air Force Special Operation Command’s leadership are dedicated to creating an environment where Airmen and families can thrive—whether that means adopting programs at the base level or making sure each Cannon kid has a good first day of school.

“After the event, I heard a lot of positive feedback from parents,” Dunn said. “Most importantly, I heard stories of kids coming home and saying, ‘I made a new friend today!’ That is how we know we did our job.”

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