Student Veterans of America and VFW Announce 2018 Class of Legislative Fellows
WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 5, 2018) — Student Veterans of America (SVA) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) are proud to announce the selection of 10 outstanding student veterans to serve as the 2018 VFW-SVA Legislative Fellows. Announced during SVA’s 10th National Conference in San Antonio, these student veterans will travel to Washington, D.C., from March 4–7 to advocate on behalf of their peers and the broader military-affiliated community on Capitol Hill.
Now in its fourth year, the VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship is a semester-long academic program designed to develop veterans’ policy knowledge and grassroots advocacy skills. Fellows conduct research on critical issues facing the veteran population and propose federal policy solutions. This year, policy focus areas included higher education success, transition to civilian life, workforce development, and the future of veterans’ health care.
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Jared Lyon, SVA National President and CEO, added: “SVA is proud to continue our partnership with the VFW through this fellowship, which gives student veterans the opportunity to use their lived experience to inform public policy. With the VFW’s support, these student veterans are leading the way for the next generation of veteran advocates.”
While in Washington, each fellow is paired with a VFW mentor and joins their state delegation in meetings with members of Congress. Fellows also participate in briefings with policymakers and learn effective strategies for engaging the media. Upon returning to their campuses, fellows execute a community action plan and deliver their policy proposals to their congressional representatives.
Meet the 2018 VFW-SVA Legislative Fellows
- Brad Ward, U.S. Army veteran – University of Central Oklahoma
- Brian Walker, U.S. Navy veteran – Northeastern University
- Edward Tjaden, U.S. Army veteran – Washington University in St. Louis
- Francheska Salazar, U.S. Navy veteran – Anne Arundel Community College
- Gabriel Snashall, U.S. Navy veteran – Wesleyan University
- Hannah Joyce, U.S. Air Force veteran – Simmons College
- Jennifer Hosley, U.S. Army veteran – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith
- Joseph Sacco, U.S. Navy veteran – Idaho State University
- Randall Dexter, U.S. Army veteran – University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- Ryan Rehberg, U.S. Army veteran – University of North Dakota
The VFW-SVA Legislative Fellowship builds on the formal partnership between the two organizations, established in 2013. Together, SVA and the VFW have helped advance major legislative victories, including the landmark expansion of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
For media inquiries or to connect with the 2018 fellows, please contact SVA at [email protected].
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About Student Veterans of America
With a focused mission on empowering student veterans, Student Veterans of America® (SVA) is committed to providing an educational experience that goes beyond the classroom. Through a dedicated network of over 1,600 on-campus chapters in all 50 states and 4 countries representing nearly 600,000 student veterans, SVA aims to inspire yesterday’s warriors by connecting student veterans with a community of like-minded chapter leaders. Every day these passionate leaders work to provide the necessary resources, network support, and advocacy to ensure student veterans can effectively connect, expand their skills, and ultimately achieve their greatest potential. For more information, visit us at www.studentveterans.org.
About the VFW
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is the nation’s largest and oldest major war veterans organization. Founded in 1899, the congressionally chartered VFW is comprised entirely of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, Guard and Reserve forces. With more than 1.5 million VFW and Auxiliary members located in over 6,000 Posts worldwide, the nonprofit veterans service organization is proud to proclaim “NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS” than the VFW, which is dedicated to veterans’ service, legislative advocacy, and military and community service programs. For more information, or to join, visit our website at vfw.org.
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