Veterans Center Honors Military-Connected Student of the Month
Posted: July 19, 2019 | Author: Kierstin Pitcher-Holloway | Read Time: 2 minutes
Beginning this summer, the Veterans Resource and Support Center at Southern Utah University will honor one student each month as the Military-Connected Student of the Month. Director of Veteran Services Amanda Keller created the award to bring more awareness to this particular group of students and distinguish those that have gone above and beyond.
“We are a unique and wonderful group of students and I wanted to celebrate that,” said Keller.
The Veterans Center is encouraging students, faculty, staff and community members to nominate military-connected students. A military-connected student is someone who has served in or out of combat or someone who has a family member who has served in the military. The hope is that recognition of such students will inspire and motivate others to aim high in their lives.
Jeffery Hunt, school certifying official in the Veterans Center, helped Director Keller create the award. Each month the two meet to review the nominees and select a student of the month.
“We wanted it to be a recognition; to let the rest of the community see SUU’s military connections,” said Hunt. “It also helps other military students to see the success of their peers.”
The first student to receive the award was James Dotter. Dotter served in the Marines, deploying twice between 2011 to 2016, after which he enrolled in SUU to study aviation. During his time at SUU Dotter maintained a 3.90 grade-point average.
“It helps students to see that it can be done and that the transition from the military to higher education can be made,” said Hunt. “Especially in James Dotter’s case where he was able to maintain his GPA while in the aviation program.”
The Veterans Resource and Support Center at Southern Utah University helps military-connected students to graduate and achieve their goals. The center is looking to nominate students who volunteer, do well in school and help their fellow students.
Tags: Student Veterans Center
