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New educational experience available to veterans in Benton County

The University of Health and Performance in Gentry is looking to prepare service members for a career in health or fitness.

GENTRY, Ark. — At the University of Health and Performance, they want to open a new chapter for veterans after their service. 

The university sits on 500 acres in Gentry and provides an immersive education in health and fitness all while providing self-discovery and purpose for veterans. They've been helping those who served since 2021. 

On Veterans Day, they held a ribbon cutting for their new PureLife Culinary Center. It will fuel students, staff, and guests with healthy meals and offer educational opportunities in the nutrition, diet, and food areas. 

"We get to help support and serve veterans, help them get trained up to become health and fitness professionals and truly discover a new sense of purpose and direction and meaning in their life," said Wesley Northey, the director of Human Performance at the center. "The culinary center is something we've been looking very much forward to opening and getting to do this on a special Veterans Day to share with our partners as well as other partners from the community is an incredible thing." 

State leaders, including Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, attended and spoke at Monday's ribbon cutting. 

"Veterans are hard workers. They're loyal, and they understand teamwork better than anybody else you will find. If you give them a mission, you can be guaranteed it will get done," Sanders said.  "Every single person that is here tonight is here because they believe in our country, and they recognize that the reason it's as great as it is is because of the men and women who have served to give it to us." 

This Veterans Day was different for Northey, as he was sworn in as a newly commissioned officer of the Arkansas Air National Guard. 

"I've wanted to serve for many years. I started working with the veteran community a few years ago and learned that even though I'm 40 years old, there was still an opportunity for me to commission," Northey said. "Being able to serve our great country is a true honor. It's a real privilege. Many of us sort of take for granted the work and the commitment that's required to live in a great country like America, and so I'm grateful that I get an opportunity to do that." 

He said introducing veterans into the workforce is a win for employers, and they'll continue their mission at the university as it continues to grow. 

"Our veterans are some of the most valuable, trained, skilled experts and leaders," Northey said. "Our veterans can serve a greater purpose by entering in the workforce as civilians and our corporations can have some of the most tremendous leaders that they can bring on." 

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