Major Bethaney Conklin to serve as Veterans Day program speaker

Upper Iowa University cordially invites the public to attend its annual Veterans Day program on Friday, November 10. UIU President William R. Duffy will provide the welcome address, which is scheduled to begin at 12:15 p.m. in the Student Center ballrooms at UIU’s Fayette Campus.

Fayette American Legion Post 339 will present the colors. Emcee Morgan Lavaway, an Iowa National Guard member and UIU criminal justice major from Akron, Iowa, will introduce guest speaker Iowa Army National Guard Major Bethaney Conklin.

“I am both honored and humbled to be invited to speak at Upper Iowa University’s Veteran’s Day Program,” said Conklin, who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UIU in 2003. “My UIU educational experiences have provided me with a vast social network. I have very much enjoyed getting to know my fellow students; and equally, have enjoyed the diverse perspectives and expertise provided by the faculty.”

A traditional guardsman for nearly 20 years and emergency preparedness coordinator for nine eastern Iowa counties, Conklin is currently pursuing an MBA degree at the UIU-Quad Cities Center. She and her daughter, Kirsten, reside in Bettendorf, Iowa.

Conklin enlisted as a combat medic in the Iowa Army National Guard on July 9, 1998. Commissioned in the Iowa Army National Guard as a quartermaster officer from the 185th Regiment, Regional Training Institute in 2001, Conklin later branch transferred to the Medical Service Corps. Conklin’s first officer assignment was as the 134th Medical Company platoon leader from 2002-2006. During this time, she also served as the rear detachment commander.  In January 2007, she transitioned to the 109^th Medical Battalion as the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment commander. Along with these positions, Conklin also held a wide array of command and staff assignments.

Conklin has been deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 109th Medical Battalion as the Company Commander, Headquarters Support Company. During her military service she has earned various awards, including the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Iowa Commendation Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Multinational Force and Observers Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Armed Forces Reserve Medal.