Student Veterans of America

With nearly 1,300 chapters representing over 460,000 veterans in higher education, the mission of SVA is to provide our nation's military veterans with the resources, support, and advocacy needed to succeed in post-service life through higher education. More @ www.StudentVeterans.org

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8 Years Ago: The Signing of the Post-9/11 GI Bill

Today marks the 8th Anniversary of the signing of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (H.R. 2642) - more commonly known as the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The act amended Part III of Title 38, United States Code to include a new Chapter 33, which expanded the educational benefits for military veterans who have served since September 11, 2001. President George W. Bush signed H.R. 2642 into law on June 30, 2008. 

Student Veterans of America takes great pride and responsibility for leading the charge for veterans everywhere in higher education, which includes proving the value of the Post 9/11 GI Bill to the American economy. This is at the forefront of many of our policy and research efforts. SVA calls on members of Congress and policymakers to understand the value of creating targeted investments in veterans through a data-driven approach. It is the duty of SVA’s Department of Government Affairs to identify and support policy solutions to issues that face the men and women who have served our country. 

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is an effort to pay for veterans' college expenses to a similar extent that the original G.I. Bill did after World War II. The main provisions of the act include funding 100% of a public four-year undergraduate education to a veteran who has served three years on active duty since September 11, 2001. The act also provides the ability for the veteran to transfer benefits to a spouse or children after serving ten years. 

This bill was written, introduced and guided to passage by Virginia Senator Jim Webb, who introduced it on his first day in the Senate in January 2007. Webb's hope was that these benefits would help current veterans as much as the original G.I. Bill helped the Greatest Generation in shaping America.The original Post-9/11 GI Bill's provisions went into effect on August 1, 2009. The original GI Bill brought us 14 Nobel laureates, two dozen Pulitzer Prize-winners, three Supreme Court justices, and scores of other leaders. The careers it inspired and the prosperity it generated, lay the foundation for the largest middle class in history. Today, Student Veterans of America continues to support veterans' success on campus with the aim of harnessing the transformative power of education as transition strategy for veterans and their families.

Click here to read more about the policy priorities of SVA. 

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SVA Celebrates the 72nd Anniversary of the GI Bill

President Roosevelt signs the G.I. Bill into law on June 22, 1944 in the Oval Office while others look on.

Today marks the 72nd anniversary of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, also commonly called the GI Bill of Rights. And today after the passage of successive GI Bills following the Korean War, Vietnam and most recently, the post 9/11 version; it is now known simply as the new GI Bill. These GI Bills represent critically important legislative successes for America's service members, veterans, survivors, and their families.

Passed during World War II, the landmark measure transformed our nation by enabling millions of America's Greatest Generation to obtain unprecedented access to college and training. The original GI Bill brought us 14 Nobel laureates, two dozen Pulitzer Prize-winners, three Supreme Court justices, and scores of other leaders. The careers it inspired and the prosperity it generated, lay the foundation for the largest middle class in history. Today, Student Veterans of America continues to support veterans' success on campus with the aim of harnessing the transformative power of education as transition strategy for veterans and their families. As we celebrate 72 years since the passing of the original GI Bill, we we commemorate one of the most successful pieces of legislation in American history and encourage every eligible service member, survivor, veteran and family member to make the most of this awesome opportunity to readjust and continue to advance their American Dream.

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SVA Leadership Summit: Houston Recap

June 8-11, 2016 Sponsored by BP America

This weekend, Student Veterans of America continued the Leadership Institute Series in Houston, Texas, with the third SVA Leadership Summit in a series of nine summits, which will take place in different regions across the country this summer. 

Day 1 kicked off with a community service project in coordination with the Mission Continues at Kashmere Gardens Elementary School. 

Close to 50 chapter leaders from around the region demonstrated that their dedication to service continues long after their military service, as they worked to improve the school grounds. 

Day 1 concluded with a welcome reception where student veterans networked with one another, SVA staff and local leadership.

During the reception, President & CEO, Jared Lyon, shared his military-civilian transition story and provided insight to student veterans on the the many resources, events and programs that SVA offers to help them succeed in school and following graduation.

Day 2 kicked off with chapter leaders hearing from BP’s Khymberly Booth, Director of U.S. University Relations. 

Chapter leaders then introduced themselves and discussed the strengths and weaknesses of their chapters as they explored ways to grow and reinvigorate them.

During lunch, chapter leaders heard from members of the BP team about recruiting best practices. 

Day 2 concluded with chapters meeting with mentors from BP who helped them to refine their business plan. 

On Day 3, student veterans had the chance to present their business plans in front of a panel of judges, which included SVA President & CEO, Jared Lyon, SVA VP of Programs, Walter Tillman, and Teri Poulton, Director of Veteran Outreach for BP America.

After presentations, chapter leaders then had the opportunity to tour Minute Made Stadium and take in batting practice for the Houston Astros. 

Next up, wrapping up #SVALeads Houston by taking in the Houston Astros vs. the Cincinnati Reds.

Special thanks to BP and Teri Poulton for an incredible summit as #SVALeads continues to bring student veterans together to exchange chapter best practices and to explore campus-level concepts that can ease a veteran’s transition from the military to higher education to the workforce. 

To learn more about upcoming summits in your region, click here. And to see more pics from #SVALeads Houston, click here. 

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VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay Program: Looking to Student Vets for Recognition

By, Jessica Coscia

Veteran of the Day has been a tradition on VA’s social media pages for more than two years now. With each post receiving thousands of views, likes, comments and shares. 

Since this is a daily publication, they are always in need of great nominations and they are looking to the student veteran community for recognition.

Every veteran is worthy of recognition. VA is looking for veterans of all branches, generations, and experiences. 

They do not need to meet any other criteria other than having honorably served their country. It can be a student veteran, faculty at your school, a family member, or an important member of your community.

Submit a Nomination

#VeteranOfTheDay works best with 3-5 good photos — at least one of them should be in uniform. The bigger, the better, and good resolution is important. Consider scanning a physical photo if you do not have a digital copy readily available. 

Send the photos with the following information: • Name, branch, occupation, and years of service (Timothy “Tim” Lawson, Marines, 6672 Aviation Supply, 2006 to 2011) • Tours, deployments, and campaigns (OIF, OEF, Vietnam, Gulf War, etc.) • Notable awards (Purple heart, Bronze star, NAM, Army Achievement, etc.) • Current geographic location (so we can localize the story and promote to the community) • Bonus info includes what they’re doing now, significant moment(s) during their service and other unique information.

Send all materials to: [email protected]. In the subject line, put “[Veteran’s name] for Veteran of the Day.” It is important that you include as much of the requested material as possible, as it is necessary to complete and publish a Veteran of the Day.

Thank you for contributing to this important daily tradition.

Check out the 5 Most Popular Veterans of the Day in 2015: http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/24914/the-five-most-popular-veterans-of-the-day/

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SVA Leadership Summit: Atlanta Recap

June 8-11, 2016

Sponsored by The Home Depot Foundation

This weekend, Student Veterans of America continued the Leadership Institute Series in Atlanta, Georgia, with the second SVA Leadership Summit in a series of nine summits, which will take place in different regions across the country this summer. 

Day 1 kicked off with a community service project in coordination with the Hosea Feed The Hungry Shelter.

Close to 50 Chapter leaders from around the region demonstrated that their dedication to service continues long after their military service, as they worked to help Hosea sort clothing donations that will benefit the local Atlanta community.

Day 1 concluded with a welcome reception and dinner where student veterans networked with one another, SVA staff and leadership. 

During the reception, President & CEO, Jared Lyon, shared his military-civilian transition story and provided insight to student veterans on the the many resources and programs that SVA offers to help them succeed in school and following graduation.  

Day two kicked off w/ a panel moderated by former CNN correspondent, Mary Snow and various Team Depot employees. 

Student veterans were able to ask questions of the panel about transitioning into careers after service during a Q&A session.  

Student veterans then introduced themselves and discussed the strengths and weaknesses of their chapters as they explored ways to grow and reinvigorate them.

Throughout the day, the student veterans worked through a series of exercises and training, in order to help inform the business plans they worked to develop for their chapter. 

Chapters then met with mentors from The Home Depot Foundation who helped them to refine their business plan. 

Student veterans then had the chance to present their business plans in front of a panel of judges, which included SVA President & CEO, Jared Lyon, SVA VP of Programs, Walter Tillman, and Matt Harrigan, Manager of Corporate Communications and Public Relations at The Home Depot.  

To wrap up the Atlanta Summit, chapter leaders were presented with a certificate of completion by SVA President & CEO, Jared Lyon.

Click here to learn more about the SVA Leadership Institute Series and to submit your application to attend future Summits. 

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SVA Leadership Summit: Providence Recap

June 2-4, 2016 Sponsored by Electric Boat

This weekend, Student Veterans of America kicked off the Leadership Institute Series in Providence, Rhode Island, with the first SVA Leadership Summit in a series of nine summits, which will take place in different regions across the country this summer. 

Day 1 kicked off with a community service project in coordination with the Warwick Historic Cemetery Commission. 

Almost 50 Chapter leaders from around the region worked to clear out over growth in the oldest cemetery in Warwick, RI - founded in the 1630's. This service project shows that when veterans are in a community, they will always leave it better than they found it.

Day 1 concluded with a welcome reception and dinner where student veterans were able to network with staff and leadership from SVA and Electric Boat and from within the Providence community.

SVA President and CEO, Jared Lyon, also addressed the chapter leaders and spoke about the future of SVA and the programs and services available to them.

To kick off Day 2, Electric Boat’s Anthony Paolino spoke to the group about how his transition from military service to higher education lead him to his local SVA chapter and how that impacted his professional development. 

Student veterans then introduced themselves and discussed the strengths and weaknesses of their chapters as they explored ways to grow and reinvigorate them.

Throughout the day, the student veterans worked through a series of exercises and training, in order to help inform the business plans they worked to develop for their chapter. 

During a lunchtime panel, Electric Boat representatives spoke to student veterans about interviewing and resume best practices. 

Chapters then met with mentors from Electric Boat, SVA, and leaders from the community, who helped them to refine their business plans. 

On Day 3, chapter leaders headed over to Electric Boat’s local facility for a tour, in order to gain a better understanding of the work they do.  

While there, they heard from the Director of Veterans Affairs for the State of Rhode Island, Kasim Yarn.

Chapter leaders then presented their business plans to a panel of judges from Electric Boat. 

To wrap up the Providence Summit, chapter leaders were presented with a certificate of completion by SVA VP of Programs, Walter Tillman. 

To learn more about upcoming Leadership Summits in your region, as well as the SVA Leadership Institute, click here. 

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President Obama Highlights Service at Annual Soldier Ride

Written by Bob McGarity, SVA Associate Grants Writer

On a beautiful April morning on the south lawn of the White House, a crowd gathered, dressed up in bright reds, whites, and blues. In neat rows on the driveway waited a fleet of bicycles, hand cycles, and prosthetics. Laughs and motivational “Oorahs” could be heard over the crowd’s small talk. 40 active duty service members and 25 veterans participated in this year’s White House Soldier Ride, a cycling event for wounded service members and veterans, designed to help overcome physical, mental, and emotional wounds. Two Marine sentries walked out of the entrance and posted by the double doors. Each rider's name was announced as they emerged from the White House onto the south lawn to the cheering crowd.

After each rider was honored, President Obama, Vice President Biden and VA Secretary McDonald walked out with Team RWB board member William Reynolds, who took the podium first. He spoke of importance of veteran service organizations, families, friends, and the community to support America’s wounded warriors.

President Obama also took time to acknowledge these groups, who help wounded warriors overcome their injuries, both physical and mental. He emphasized that “part of this movement is to help each other; for all of us to see each other get across the finish line.”

President Obama continued:

“Our wounded warriors here today often tell me that as soon as they can, they want to serve their country again. Service is in their DNA; giving back it what you all do. But as we all know, many of our returning heroes still have a hard time connecting opportunities to community and finding ways to serve. I want to thank our incredible veteran service organizations that step up for our veterans every day, making that connection.”

At Student Veterans of America, we see that enthusiasm for service every day. Our chapter members go beyond their efforts in the classroom to ensure their military brothers and sisters all succeed in accomplishing their goals in higher education, no matter what challenges they may face.

President Obama, with the help of some young volunteers, sounded the air horn to begin the 60-mile journey. It was an inspiring event that I am extremely honored to be a part of. Safe travels to the wounded warrior cyclists!

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Mastering Business School as a Student Veteran

Written by Michael Stack, SVA’s Vice President of Development

Yesterday I had the pleasure of moderating a Google Hangout panel offered by the Graduate Management Administration Council (GMAC) that offered key insights for military personnel, veterans and student veterans who are thinking about pursuing business school. I’m happy to say that we had nearly 100 viewers tune in!

Our panelists were Shelly Heinrich and Ben Faw. Shelly is the Director of MBA Admissions at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, and Ben is a U.S. Army veteran, 2014 Harvard Business School alumni and cofounder of bestreviews.com. 

When Ben was considering business school, he took an internship on Wall Street to strengthen his finance knowledge. Continuing this strategic process, he then took a job at Tesla Motors to learn more about operations. 

Ben talked about the importance of discipline as you transition to the far less structured environment of business school. He swore by hitting the gym every morning, and having a measured, systematic approach to studying. He believes in mission, mentality and friendship, and underscored the importance of friendship during school. Your network is incredibly important, and Ben believes deeply that finding mentors, both veteran and non-veteran, will put you in a better position to succeed post-business school. 

Shelly shared that strong leadership experience and grit (the ability to roll up their sleeves and get the job done) are among the reasons that Georgetown actively recruits military candidates for their full-time and evening MBA programs. 

As an admissions expert, Shelly knows that an MBA combined with military experience makes you highly competitive and likely to achieve your personal and professional goals. She has seen first-hand how having a veterans’ network like a Student Veterans of America chapter on campus can make the transition easier. Your fellow veterans act as a resource prior to and during the application process, and provide peer-based mentorship and camaraderie during your time on campus. 

A strong campus career center is another important piece to consider when selecting a school, as it can be a true springboard to meaningful employment. Look for things like professional development skill seminars (cover letter/resume, elevator pitch), employer information sessions, career fairs, and most importantly personal mentorship opportunities with mentors in your future industry. 

Thank you to Shelly and Ben for your words of wisdom today, and thank you to GMAC for hosting us. Weren’t able to make the panel? Not a problem, you can watch it here.  

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SVA Voices: Peter Meijer - From Student Veteran to Vice-Chairman of the Board

by, Peter Meijer, SVA Board of Directors, Vice-Chairman

Starting as an Army Reserve NCO mobilized to deploy to Iraq during college, I have experienced firsthand the challenges of transitioning from the military to a civilian education. In the years that followed, I went overseas again as an aid worker in Afghanistan before returning to school last fall to pursue a business degree.

Since joining my first SVA chapter in 2007, I have witnessed three key events that have had, and will continue to have, a profound effect on veteran re-integration: the 2008 passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the 2011 end of combat operations in Iraq, and the 2014 end of combat operations in Afghanistan.

We have made great strides to adapt to the challenges and opportunities brought by these pivotal moments and their resulting trends, but the work of Student Veterans of America and our fellow service organizations remain vitally important.

Today, enlistment contracts forged to supply additional troops during the surges in Iraq and Afghanistan are winding down, returning new veterans to civilian society. Meanwhile, resurgent conflicts in the Middle East and South Asia continue to put pressure on our military and those service members who have recently joined or re-upped. Although military and veteran issues garner fewer headlines than in previous years, the need has hardly ebbed.

After eight years of involvement with Student Veterans of America, I am honored and excited to step into a position of greater responsibility as Vice Chairman of SVA’s Board of Directors.

At SVA, our mission to support veteran transition through education is as essential today as it has ever been. As we strengthen existing programs and build out additional resources and services, I am thrilled to continue to support and work with the great chapters and staff at Student Veterans of America.  

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SVA Scholars: Daniel Travis’ Story

How the Google SVA Scholarship Changed My College Experience

School, for me, was a huge shift in culture. I had only been out of the Army for around 3 months and there was not really a place to go back to and recover, so the only path was forward. This, of course, does not alleviate the anxiety that can come from trying to do a 180-degree turn in lifestyle, thought process, and interacting with people.

Additionally, there was a great unknown about what other people were trying to do. Were they also having trouble getting used to a new place? Did they care? Would I even be able to strike up a conversation? All of this created a constant whirlwind of worry and doubt. After a month had passed, however, I received a notification I had been selected for the Google SVA Scholarship, and I would be traveling to California for a few days.

This was where my life started to turn around. It was a fantastic experience where I met many driven, devoted people who all want to help people and the world. Meeting so many fantastic people allowed me to be washed of the worry.

I entered my university with a renewed focus and knowledge that my choice was a good one. Because of the help I received from my scholarship, I have been able to donate countless hours to volunteering and helping veterans in my community.

With the help of a few more veterans, we established a veteran-focused fraternity on campus. We constantly are getting veterans out in the community, meeting more people, doing philanthropy, and just generally enjoying college now, but it all started with a little help and the chance to meet some great people.

Want to be a featured SVA Scholarship recipient? Click here to share your story. Check out the latest SVA Scholarship opportunities and apply here.

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Today’s Scholars: A closer look at majors that student veterans are pursuing

By Chris Cate, Vice President of Research, Student Veterans of America

What came to be called the GI Bill of Rights (Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944) would later be referred to as the single most transformative bill of the twentieth century. The bill helped educate an estimated 8 million veterans of “The Greatest Generation,” producing Nobel Prize winners, Supreme Court Justices, three presidents, Pulitzer Prize winners, teachers, scientists, doctors, engineers, plus a million lawyers, nurses, businessmen, artists, actors, writers, pilots and others in a variety of categories.

Today, colleges in the US are currently seeing the largest flood of student veterans since WWII and while most research on student majors and field of study focus on retrospective studies after degree completion, SVA Spotlight, a series of research briefs exploring the SVA 2015 Census provides us with a measurement of the majors and fields of study that student veterans are currently pursuing. By analyzing the primary majors reported by student veterans who responded to the 2015 SVA Census Survey that we released, we are able to estimate which majors or fields of study student veterans are pursuing.

Each month, the SVA Spotlight research brief highlights some of the key takeaways and provides basic demographic information on student veterans to institutions, organizations, and the public.

This month’s SVA Spotlight provides an in-depth analysis on which majors or fields of study student veterans are pursuing. What we found from this analysis was that student veterans and military-connected students pursue a wide variety of degrees and majors while enrolled, however, Business-related and STEM fields of study stand out as top choices among student veterans.  

Compared with other research into student veteran completion rates and STEM-related training, the results show a potential shortfall between the percentages of military service members trained in STEM and the percentage of student veterans reporting a primary major in STEM fields.

This would suggest that there is a potential loss in the investment the U.S. military expends on STEM training and specialization and its carryover to the civilian workforce. While the potential causes for this shortfall are out of the scope of the SVA 2015 Census, it is our hope that this brief begins a conversation on investigating the causes for this loss and potential ways of minimizing it.

This kind of data is becoming more crucial as elected officials continue to take veterans’ education into consideration. It is our hope that this data will help schools allocate resources for incoming student veterans and aid employers in preparing for student veterans entrance into the workforce.

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Veterans’ Voices

Written by Jeniffer Seavey

As a child I looked up to my grandpa who was a civilian Railroad Engineer and my great grandpa who served in the Army Air Corp as a Flight Navigator in the Pacific Theater during World War II. They were fulfilling their passions while serving others. When I was twenty-two I began my own journey by joining the Army. My MOS was Water Treatment, exactly like In the Army Now starring Pauly Shore, although in my defense I did not see that film until after I joined. I was happy to do my part serving others and I was armed with the knowledge that my specialty would send me overseas (I figured I would be alright because when shit hit the fan I would have all the water). 

Unfortunately my career was shortened due to multiple injuries I acquired during BCT. Although I finished Basic I was unable to continue to AIT and was sent to the Warrior Transition Unit for six months. It was there I made many lasting friendships with people who were just like me; wanting to be the best we could be while helping others. This past year I was at a low place where I was unable to support myself by working minimum wage while attending school full time. I really missed my comrades, something I struggle to find amongst the general university population. Stepping out of my comfort zone I went to volunteer at Wright State University’s Veteran and Military Center to be a part of something bigger than myself again. In retrospect, you should not “volunteer” for stuff, but sometimes that is the only alternative. That day I ended up walking out with a job though and I had no idea what I had just got myself into. 

The Veterans' Voices Project is veterans encouraging other veterans to share their stories. We collaborate with a local National Public Radio (NPR) station, WYSO, and send copies of the interviews to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Our topics often vary widely. For example, we have interviewed many local veterans such as a World War II Codebreaker, a Vietnam Veteran helping others cope with PTSD, military sexual assault survivors, others navigating transitions after service and many more. The older veterans understand their stories could be lost forever so they readily share. However, for our Post-9/11 Veterans it seems to be a little harder to generate interest as many feel they did not do anything worth talking about. Please remember that the man on your left and woman on your right is a reason to share. Many who tell their story realize that few will truly understand but there are many others that should know what you have done and the significance behind it. 

My grandpa and other family members share stories of what they remember and I never understood the sacrifices that they made until I was older. This is my opportunity to serve again before stories are no longer remembered; to help others share their memories with their family and friends; to educate the public, and connect with other veterans. Sharing your story is not just about you; it is about all of us coming together and knowing we are not alone no matter what our story is.

To learn more about the Veterans’ Voices Project and listen to our stories visit:

https://www.wright.edu/veteran-and-military-center/services/veterans-voices

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Women’s History Month: Jessica Cattle reflects on her accomplishments during service

Jessica Cattle is a student veteran at University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and serves as the Webmaster for her SVA chapter.

As a woman, being in the only combat arms Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) in the Army from 2009 to 2013 meant that I had to work twice as hard to prove myself and earn the respect of my fellow soldiers. I am sure that most, if not all females, feel that particular way at one point or another during their military career, but for a female in an all-male unit it is quite challenging. 

The first women that went through AIT for 14S (Avenger Crewmember) had it pretty rough because it was new and there were a lot of changes that had to be made to accommodate women in the MOS. It didn't take long for me to earn their respect.

I have worked very hard to excel throughout my military career. Soon after arriving to my active duty unit I participated in the Bataan Death March in White Sands Missile Range, which was a grueling 26.2 mile ruck march in the rugged terrain of New Mexico. Our team of five women military personnel earned the first place title. In addition to excelling in physical fitness, I had earned one of the top five team titles as the only woman, and my team was one of only two teams to have a direct hit at one of our gunnery field missions. What I am most proud of during my time in uniform is that I feel as though me, and the other women I had the honor to serve with, helped pave the way for other females to lead from the front in the future. 

Further, being in the military inspires me more than anything in my life. I didn't really know what I wanted to do before I joined, and then once I did I knew that was exactly where I belonged. I feel such a sense of direction and pride in serving my country alongside some of the greatest men and women I've had pleasure of knowing. The camaraderie is the best part of serving in the military in my opinion. Especially when you find camaraderie amongst women who inspire you to be your best by their example.  

There is one example of who this woman was for me – my Commanding General, Brigadier General Gray. When I learned that she was a sister in my same sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi, through our monthly magazine, I was so inspired. Last month at drill I met with her to share the exciting news that we were sorority sisters and she was extremely helpful. She has since became my mentor and someone who is helping me land a seat in Officer Candidate School (OCS) this summer.  

[studentveterans-blog]

SVA Listening Tour

Mark McKenna,  Chapter Liaison/AmeriCorps VISTA Member (SVA)

“Seven States, One SVA.” The tagline for our upcoming SVA Listening Tour echoes the sentiment that we, here at the SVA National HQ, are here to serve you. Please tell us how we can better do just that. Next week we will be traveling across seven states in the Great Plains and Pacific Northwest, meeting with 20+ SVA Chapters in an area of the country which SVA has rarely visited. We recognize that we do a great job of connecting with our chapters on either coast but less so with those in the less densely populated areas in-between. We aim to change that.  

As an SVA Chapter Liaison, I spend my day talking with SVA Chapter Leaders and Advisors, connecting them with the various programs and services we offer. Often I realize that the SVA Chapter I am connecting with believes that somehow our programs and services are not for them. For example, a lot of student veterans do not think that they qualify for one of our scholarships due to their major; or an SVA Chapter does not apply for our Vet Center Initiative (VCI) program because they are part of a small school and feel as though their application will not be taken seriously. Then I remember that when I served as an SVA Chapter Leader at the University of Arizona, I felt the same way. The SVA National HQ was an idea, a distant untouchable entity that was not concerned with the goings-on of our little club. Their events were not for me, their grants were not for my chapter, and they had bigger things to worry about.

I would like to take a minute to challenge my former self, and perhaps you, on this perception. Last year, our NBC Universal Scholarship was open to literally ANY & ALL student veterans, ten community colleges were awarded a Vet Center Initiative grant, and Santa Fe Community College won the SVA Business Plan Competition. SVA is larger, more agile and more representative than it has ever been, but we can always do better. So even if we are not coming to your chapter on this Listening Tour, please reach out to us. We are here to serve you. Please tell us how we can better do just that.

202-223-4710 is the phone number, and [email protected] is the email. My fellow Chapter Liaisons and I are standing by, because at the end of the day we are “50 states, 5 countries, 1300+ chapters, One SVA.”

[studentveterans-blog]

HillVets 100: Another Year of Celebrating Veteran Success Stories

Recently, Student Veterans of America signed a memorandum of understanding with HillVets officially welcoming them to their new home at SVA's National Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Later this month, we will join HillVets as they release its choices for the 100 most influential personalities on veterans issues, highlighting the lawmakers, business leaders, community organizers and advocates of 2015 at the HillVets 100 awards ceremony.

Former Secretary of Defense and United States Senator Chuck Hagel will serve as the Honorary Chair for the upcoming HillVets 100 on March 22. The event will also feature performances from the Telling Project, Armed Services Arts Project, and veteran authors.

“We are honored to have Secretary Hagel join us for this event,” said Justin Brown, HillVets Co-Founder and Executive Director. “His lifetime of service to our nation — from Army infantryman to Congressional staffer to United States Senator to Secretary of Defense — is an inspiration and an example for all of us.”

The event will take place at the Reserve Officers Association at One Constitution Avenue Northeast in Washington, DC.

The honorees include veterans of all eras, from World War II to the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Selectees represent a broad spectrum of veterans from artists to elected officials to business executives to nonprofit leaders, among others.

SVA’s President and CEO Jared Lyon and Vice President of Government Affairs Will Hubbard made the 2015 HillVets 100, as well as SVA Board of Directors Member Pamela Erickson, Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Raytheon Company. They join many SVA friends and supporters also recognized on the list.

HillVets is a bipartisan organization with a mission to transform the power and presence of veterans in government, policy, and politics. The HillVets 100 honors and recognizes those that have continued answering the call to serve, and is an opportunity to gather in celebration of the successes of so many of our veterans.

“We are excited to start realizing our vision of having an annual event where we bring America’s most influential veterans into the same space,” Brown said. “We hope to increase collaboration across business, the arts, politics, and non-profits.”

Tickets are currently available for purchase at www.hillvets100.eventbrite.com.

Student veterans, wounded warriors, and anyone for whom tickets are cost-prohibitive are welcome to contact Executive Director of Development Alex Davis ([email protected]) directly for discount pricing. In addition to SVA, sponsors and partners for this event include Shoulder2Shoulder, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Wounded Warrior Project, Bramer Group, Beytin Agency, FourBlock, Team Rubicon, Raytheon, BP, ScoutComms, Dog Tag Bakery, Harper Macaw, First Generation, Commonwealth Strategic Partners, LLC, Springleaf / OneMain Holdings, and more to be announced soon.

Last year, our very own Vice President of Government Affairs, Will Hubbard, was honored as one of the HillVets100 of 2014 “Top Influencers.” We are incredibly excited and proud to expand our partnership with HillVets, this year, and to continue our work together on behalf of veterans making the transition from the classroom to public service careers.

[studentveterans-blog]

Google-SVA scholarship: pathway to opportunities

Sherry Shi, 2014 Google-SVA Scholar & 2015 SVA Student Veteran of the Year

I first learned about the Google-SVA scholarship at the 2014 Student Veterans of America National Conference. I quickly applied and have not looked back since. The scholarship has presented me with a whirlwind of opportunities. It not only helped me financially with the costs of education, but also allowed me to join a network of talented students in computer science and engineering from all around the United States.  

The 2014 Google Scholars’ Retreat was held at the Googleplex in Mountain View, California. There I attended tech workshops, participated in leadership team-building activities, and built an educational website during a two-day hackathon.  

Soon after attending the Google Scholars’ Retreat, I became the Google Student Ambassador for Stony Brook University. Just a month later, I was back at the Googleplex for the Google Student Ambassador Summit, where I was able to continue networking and be inspired by students across the country. My primary role as a Google Ambassador was to act as a liaison between Google and my university for the duration of the academic year. I worked closely with the Google New York office and organized outreach events on campus to raise awareness about Google’s products, brand, and academic opportunities for students.  

My experiences from the Google-SVA scholarship have been nothing short of amazing, and I strongly encourage all student veterans to apply. Click here to see all current SVA scholarships before they close on April 4.

[studentveterans-blog]

VFW-SVA Legislative Fellows Success Stories: Rob Janice

On February 27th, I took a flight to Washington, D.C. a day before the annual VFW Legislative Conference was set to begin. The plan was to spend the day with my older sister in nearby Alexandria, to have a relaxing day before what was sure to be a whirlwind event beginning on Sunday evening. I had an idea that the experience of being a VFW-SVA Legislative Fellow would be memorable, but had little idea of what exactly I was getting myself into.

Over the course of the past couple of months, I was narrowing down my research topic into what was ultimately a focus on the current STEM Extension Bill, or H.R. 748. I went to Washington with the idea that veterans in STEM majors need additional help to finish their degree track under G.I. Bill benefits, and was hoping to spread that word to members of Congress. What I failed to realize was that the ideas of the other nine fellows would blend beautifully with mine, and as much as I was pitching my thoughts and ideas, I was pitching theirs. From credit accreditation to priority registration, there was a number of ideas that worked toward the same goal as mine: higher graduation rates for veterans.  

I was able to secure a co-sponsor of the bill that I was pushing from Rep. Ruben Gallego from Arizona’s seventh district, and met with the office of Rep. David McKinley, who sponsored the original bill. Through those meetings and an array of others, this fellowship taught me many lessons, but one lesson stands out above the rest. When veterans come together with passion and knowledge, storming the hill with a common purpose, there is little that can stop them from achieving their goals.  - Rob Janice, 2016 VFW-SVA Fellow

We at SVA are incredibly proud of Rob Janice for his work on the STEM Bill. H.R. 748 is currently slated for a hearing in the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee in mid-April. Having more supporters sign onto the bill helps show that there is a growing need for an extra year of G.I. Bill benefits for those attaining STEM degrees. In addition, having a Congressman sign on to a bill proposed by an VFW-SVA Fellow shows the power that individuals have when given the chance to speak with their local representatives. It is our goal through the VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship to continue addressing issues that student veterans face every day, and give them the power to meet with their respective representatives to push for better legislative Bills in regards to student veteran issues.

Having Rep. Ruben Gallego sign onto H.R. 748 after meeting with Rob Janice, is one step forward in the direction of extending the G.I. Bill for STEM majors and is an amazing win for Rob Janice, the SVA-VFW Legislative Fellowship and most of all, student veterans. We thank Mr. Janice and Rep. Ruben Gallego for their hard work and dedication to veterans.  - Derek Fronabarger, Director of Policy, SVA