SVA Announces Student Veteran Advisory Council

01/24/2025

WASHINGTON, D.C.  (January 23, 2025) – Student Veterans of America (SVA) is excited to introduce the Student Veteran Advisory Council. The Student Veteran Advisory Council consists of current student veterans, including all Student Veteran of the Year finalists and the chapter presidents of the Chapter of the Year finalists. This council represents a step forward in pursuit of SVA’s goal to advocate and safeguard veteran benefits, meet student veterans where they are, and support student veterans to, through, and beyond higher education.

Join us in congratulating:

Amanda Khoury, Florida International University
Angelina Trillo, Oregon State University
Annsleigh Anderson, University of California – Los Angeles
Caroline Burten, Baylor University
Dani Bermudez, Arizona State University
David Jones, Saddleback College
Desaree Edwards, Wesleyan University
Eric Sowers, The Ohio State University
Jake Slocum, Chapman University
Jamie Springston, Marshall University
Kaily White, University of Washington – Tacoma
Matthew Garcia, Cornell University
Michael Richardson, University of Central Florida
Paola S. Rodriguez Valiente, University of Kentucky
Ralph Figueroa, California State University – San Bernardino
Talos Farris, Bristol Community College

The Student Veteran Advisory Committee is an exciting and critical step in ensuring that Student Veterans of America remains deeply connected to the voices of those we serve—student veterans, active duty students, members of the National Guard and Reserve, their families, caregivers, and survivors. This committee embodies our commitment to celebrating and amplifying the experiences and perspectives of our community. By bringing their voices directly into conversations at our national headquarters and with the SVA Board of Directors, we ensure our mission continues to align with the evolving needs of student veterans nationwide. The students named to this committee represent the best of the best—exceptional leaders within their SVA chapters and among the nation’s top student veterans. We are honored to collaborate with them as we chart the future of SVA together.Jared Lyon, SVA's National President and CEO

SVA’s Student Veteran Advisory Council will serve the student veteran community by initiating strategic projects that reflect the many SVA chapter voices and needs of the organization. Meeting quarterly, this council will focus on a new project each quarter for a total of four projects throughout the year.

I am very fortunate to attend a school with such a robust chapter of SVA at Baylor University. I can’t wait to share all of our methods, techniques, successes, and failures with others to help them grow and develop their chapters. Additionally, I am excited to learn from others and continue to grow our own chapter. It is my hope that this council will elevate SVA as a whole and expand our ability to support student veterans across the country!Caroline Burten

Serving on the SVA Student Advisory Council as the 2024 SVA Student Veteran of the Year is more than an honor—it’s a responsibility to advocate, inspire, and ensure that student veterans across the nation feel heard in their journey to success and together, we’re proving that there are no limits to what we can achieve with support and determination.Ralph Figueroa

We are proud to introduce the members of SVA’s inaugural Student Veteran Advisory Council cohort and eagerly anticipate the impact their work will have on the student veteran community. This council exemplifies the spirit of collaboration, innovation, and leadership that drives SVA forward. With a commitment to uplifting the voices of student veterans and addressing their unique challenges, the council’s quarterly projects will help shape the future of veteran advocacy and higher education support.

Stay tuned as we share updates on their initiatives throughout the year.

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 nearly 1,600 on-campus chapters in all 50 states and 4 countries representing more than 750,000 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.

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