September 9, 2021 – Today, at the annual ceremony El Paso County’s Veterans Service Office and the Board of El Paso County Commissioners announced Skyler Nelson as the Veteran of the Year.
Skyler Nelson is an Iraq War veteran that served in the Army as a Chaplain Assistant. She is a graduate student at Pepperdine University, working on becoming a clinical psychologist. She’s currently developing a veteran housing project in honor of her mentor CSM Scott Bailey.
Skyler joined the Army at age 17, missing her High School graduation. She served in Iraq as a chaplain’s assistant. Skyler has worked countless hours as a volunteer veterans advocate, volunteering her time with several organizations and advocating with local politicians to provide services for homeless veterans. Skyler is the Community Outreach Coordinator for K9’s for Veterans Abroad, raising thousands of dollars to provide free service dogs to veterans. She is also involved with Homes for all Veterans and Green Beret Foundation among other local non-profits.
Skyler has her own website she designed to guide veterans to local services as well as a behavioral health group page on Facebook. She is on the school board for Spacious Skies Charter School that is working to start a private school that assists special needs children. Skyler works with Mental Health Colorado and advocates for the homeless and Gold Star Families. In addition to her volunteer efforts, she is attending graduate school to become Clinical Psychologist.
El Paso County would like to thank the well deserving finalists Andrew Gilbert, Al Batey, and Roger A. Fortin for their continued service to the veteran community.
Video of the ceremony can be viewed on the El Paso County Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/ElPasoCountyCO/videos/1328282154295656.