Student Veterans Win Big Across University Campuses

Nearing the end of the academic year on campuses across America, universities present students with annual awards that acknowledge their merits in community building and their service efforts within their community. These awards distinguish students as leaders on campus and highlight them as examples of leadership success. Student Veterans of America’s (SVA) chapter presidents are among those who have been honored with such awards this year.

Army veteran and Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) SVA chapter president, Jerry Stewart, Navy veteran and former SVA Chapter President at Old Dominion University (ODU), and Army veteran and California State University – San Bernardino (CSUSB) SVA chapter president, Ralph Figueroa are among the many student veterans who have received prestigious awards at the university level for their student organization leadership.

Annually, MTSU presents one of their students with the Student Organization President of the Year award; this year Stewart was the distinguished recipient. Stewart is the first SVA Chapter president, and first veteran, to be awarded the Student Organization President of the Year.

Stewart was first introduced to Student Veterans of America prior to attending Middle Tennessee State University by an acquaintance he met through the VFW, who also happened to be the SVA chapter president at the time. He joined the chapter near the end of his first semester, and was handed the torch of chapter presidency.

Among the achievements that Stewart is being recognized for is his push to have MTSU listed on the National Purple Heart Trail – the purpose of the Purple Heart Trail is to create a symbolic and honorary system of roads, highways, bridges, and other monuments that pay tribute to the men and women who have been awarded the Purple Heart medal.

Also, the MTSU SVA chapter hosts an annual Burger Burn on campus towards the end of the academic year. The Burger Burn, a large and all-campus inclusive event, is an example of collaborating with on- and off-campus veteran resources within the community. MTSU SVA received donations and volunteer help from local companies within the community and international brands such as Tyson Foods. Collaboratively, the MTSU SVA and community volunteers were able to serve over 1,800 hamburgers, 1,500 chicken wings, and 900 hotdogs to the students and faculty on campus. The Burger Burn was a success on campus, so much so that for next year’s Burger Burn, MTSU has decided to increase its support and assistance.

Not only are student veterans being recognized for their individual efforts at the university level, SVA chapters are also being recognized for their collective efforts. The CSUSB SVA chapter has had a significant impact on and off their campus by hosting events and programs that bring together the local veteran community.

Collaborating with the Veteran Success Center, the CSUSB SVA chapter brings veterans together by co-hosting monthly life skills workshops with each month having a different theme such as time management, stress management, financial fitness, and healthy relationships. Another way the chapter adds value to the veteran community on campus is with the Veterans Roundtable. Similar to a support group, the Veterans Roundtable allows student veterans to have mental health conversations in a safe space. Stemming from a conversation during one of the roundtables, the chapter created the Student Veteran Hygiene Commissary which is stocked with hygiene products and other items such as socks, laundry detergent, and more.

For their efforts on-campus and in the community, the CSUSB SVA chapter was awarded the Student Club Organization of the Year. Chapter President, Ralph Figueroa, was named Outstanding Student Club Leader of the Year, and Secretary Treasurer, Vicky Lopez Lopez, was named Emerging Leader of the Year.

Hickey began attending Old Dominion University in the Fall of 2020 and was introduced to Student Veterans of America while visiting the military lounge. His involvement with the SVA at ODU chapter began when he assumed the role of community service chairman. A couple of semesters later, Hickey was named president of the SVA at ODU chapter. While still in his first semester as president, Hickey had a goal to make the SVA at ODU chapter the most engaged campus organization.

With their Annual Mental Health Week events, which occur at the end of April towards the beginning of May, the SVA at ODU chapter invites students from across the campus to participate in focus groups to talk about their mental health journey. During the week, Hickey’s chapter hosts different focus groups (i.e. men’s, women’s, LGBTQIA+) from Monday to Wednesday, culminating in a large all-inclusive focus group on Thursday. To close the week, Friday is reserved for a community outing which brings everyone together to decompress from the week and enjoy each other’s company.

Hickey has been nominated for this award two times previously, and he did not win. However, as the saying goes, the third time is the charm, and this year he was awarded the Ellen Neufeldt Leader of the Year Award.

“Humility goes a long way, if you go into this expecting to win an award, I don’t think you’re in it for the right reasons,” said Hickey. “The key components are having humility, empathy, and the desire to help, everything else will come with time. If an award comes, fine, if it doesn’t that’s fine too; you’re not doing this for the recognition or the award, you’re doing it because you are helping someone.”