Honors Awards
Nominate a fellow student veteran, chapter or chapter advisor to receive an award at NatCon.
Awarding Those Who Lead, Serve, and Inspire
Student Veterans of America (SVA) is proud to recognize outstanding chapters, advisors, and student veterans through our annual Honors Awards process. The 2026 honors awards nomination process will open in September 2026. Finalists will be notified in late November.
For the Chapter of the Year Award, it is recommended that each chapter submit only one nomination. However, for the Student Veteran of the Year and Chapter Advisor of the Year Awards, anyone is welcome to submit a nomination: whether for themselves or for others.
*Nominations should include highlights from January 2026 to present. To be eligible to receive an SVA honor award, nominees (or, for Chapter of the Year, at least one chapter member or advisor) must be present at the 19th Annual NatCon in Texas where recipients will be announced.
2025 Student Veteran of the Year - Nikki Gold, Oregon State University
Student Veteran of the Year
- Any academic honors or awards earned by the nominee.
- How the nominee has displayed exceptional leadership qualities and a commitment to serving others, both within the student veteran community and the broader society.
- How the nominee has made a positive impact on the lives of fellow student veterans or the veteran community.
- Nominators have the option to include a one page letter of recommendation from someone of their choosing for the nominee.
- The nominee’s GPA will be requested on the nomination form – please have the information ready to include.
Chapter of the Year
Only one application per chapter is necessary. Nominators will be asked to describe:
- How the chapter has fostered a high level of engagement, involvement, and community-building within their chapter, on campus/with other campus organizations, and in the larger, military-affiliated community.
- How the chapter has made an impact on the lives of student veterans and the broader veteran community.
- Up to six examples of chapter programs, events, or projects that best showcase the chapter’s impact.
2025 Chapter of the Year - Saddleback Veterans Club, Saddleback College
2025 Chapter Advisor of the Year - Matt Butler, Fordham University at Lincoln Center
Chapter Advisor of the Year
Multiple nominations for the same nominee are accepted. Nominators will be asked to describe how the advisor has:
- Provided exceptional support and guidance to student veterans within their chapter.
- Played a crucial role in the development and success of the chapter, demonstrating the ability to effectively lead and mentor chapter leaders, encourage collaboration, and promote chapter growth.
- Demonstrated active engagement with the larger Student Veterans of America organization, showcasing a commitment to staying connected with the wider network of student veterans and utilizing available resources and support systems.
Partner in Excellence
Nomination deadline is Monday, November 9, 2026
2025 Partners in Excellence Award Recipeints: EY, Fiserv, Johnson & Johnson, RTX, and The Walt Disney Company.
2025 Award Recipient - TikTok
Daniel J. Edelman Corporate Champion of the Year
The Daniel J. Edelman Corporate Champion of the Year Award celebrates a corporate partner whose exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment empower veterans through education, career advancement, and community building. This year, SVA is thrilled to honor TikTok for its sustained investment in supporting veterans through mentorship, workforce access, and opportunities that strengthen community and long‑term success.
Senator Bob Dole Continued Service Award
The Bob Dole Continued Service Award honors the legacy of a beloved public servant, U.S. Army veteran, student veteran, husband, father, and proud American — Senator Bob Dole. This award recognizes individuals or organizations that exemplify his spirit of continued service through outstanding dedication and advocacy on behalf of veterans, military families, caregivers, and supporters. Student Veterans of America proudly presents this year’s award to Jim Lorraine, President & CEO of America’s Warrior Partnership, for his lifelong commitment to community‑driven systems that improve veteran well‑being and quality of life.
2025 Award Recipient - Jim Lorraine, America's Warrior Partnership
2025 Award Recipient - Howard University's Office of Military and Veterans Affairs
William Pearson Tolley Champion for Veterans in Higher Education Award
The William Pearson Tolley Champion for Veterans in Higher Education Award recognizes a visionary leader who has made a transformative impact on student veterans’ experiences in higher education. This year’s award is presented to Howard University’s Office of Military and Veterans Affairs, whose leadership and coalition‑building have strengthened support systems, expanded access, and elevated outcomes for military‑connected students across the HBCU community.
Past Recipients
- 2025 – Nikki Gold, Oregon State University
- 2024 – Ralph Figueroa, California State University, San Bernardino
- 2023 – Angelina Trillo, Oregon State University
- 2022 – Joshua Jones, Loyola University Chicago
- 2021 – Katherine Martinez, Old Dominion University
- 2020 – Andrew Ho, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- 2019 – Bonita Rodriguez, Pace University
- 2018 – Alexandria Sawin, Louisiana State University
- 2017 – Chris Rolph
- 2016 – Kate Tillotson, University of Tulsa
- 2015 – Brian Adams Jones
- 2014 – Sherry Shi
- 2013 – Kiersten Downs, University of South Florida
- 2012 – Not Awarded
- 2011 – Josh Lang
- 2010 – Jared Lyon, Florida State University
- 2009 – Dan Sewell
- 2008 – Rodrigo Garcia
- 2025 – Saddleback Veterans Club, Saddleback College
- 2024 – Veterans of Baylor, Baylor University
- 2023 – Marshall University Student Veterans Association
- 2022 – University of South Carolina, Student Veterans Association
- 2021 – Georgetown University
- 2020 – Clemson Student Veterans Association at Clemson University
- 2019 – Colorado State University
- 2018 – Louisiana State University
- 2017 – Western Oregon University
- 2016 – Washington University in Saint Louis
- 2015 – University of Houston
- 2014 – Marywood University
- 2013 – University of Colorado Denver
- 2012 – Not Awarded
- 2011 – Northeastern University
- 2010 – University of Wisconsin-Madison
- 2009 – University of Arizona
- 2008 – San Diego State University
- 2025 – Matt Butler, Fordham University at Lincoln Center
- 2024 – Jon Segars, Student Veterans Association at University of Georgia
- 2023 – Denny Cosmo, Bristol Community College.
- 2022 – Jill Wolfe, Grand Valley State University
- 2021 – Jason Graven, Bowling Green State University
- 2020 – Ted Barco, University of Georgia
- 2019 – Emily Ives, University of California, Los Angeles
- 2018 – Jeremiah Gunderson, The University of Texas at Austin
- 2017 – Rosalynn Johnson, University of Washington, Tacoma
- 2016 – Ross Bryant, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)
- 2015 – Greg Scargall, Santa Fe Community College
- 2025 – EY, Fiserv, Johnson & Johnson, RTX, The Walt Disney Company
- 2024 – Edelman, Fiserv, Johnson & Johnson, LinkedIn, Lockheed Martin, RTX
- 2023 – Boeing, Comcast NBCUniversal, Johnson & Johnson, LinkedIn, Lockheed Martin, The Walt Disney Company, Vehicles for Veterans
- 2022 – Boeing, Comcast NBCUniversal, Fiserv, Hiring Our Heroes, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Prudential Financial, PwC Charitable Foundation, RTX (formally Raytheon Technologies), The Walt Disney Company, Wounded Warrior Project
- 2021 – BP, Comcast, Fiserv, Microsoft, RTX (formerly Raytheon), The Walt Disney Company, Wounded Warrior Project
- 2020 – Accenture, Comcast NBCUniversal, Fiserv, LinkedIn, Lockheed Martin, Prudential, RTX (formerly Raytheon)
- 2025 – Not Awarded
- 2024 – Shawn Moore, Casper College (1,300 hours)
- 2023 – Christian Smith, Fordham University
- 2025 – TikTok
- 2024 – The Walt Disney Company
- 2023 – RTX
- 2022 – Boeing
- 2021 – Comcast NBCUniversal
- 2020 – PwC Charitable Foundation
- 2019 – The Walt Disney Company
- 2025 – Not Awarded
- 2024 – Joseph Garcia, Department of Veteran Affairs
- 2023 – Maureen Elias, Department of Veteran Affairs
- 2022 – Sue Fulton, Assistant Secretary, Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs (OPIA)
- 2021 – Kayla Williams, Senior Advisor at Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, VA
- 2021 – Not Awarded
- 2020 – The Honorable Patrick J. Murphy
- 2019 – Jason Beardsley
- 2018 – Matthew Miller
- 2025 – Jim Lorraine, America’s Warrior Partnership
- 2024 – Hiring Our Heroes
- 2025 – Not Awarded
- 2024 – Senator Angus King, Senator Brian Schatz, and Senator Mike Rounds
- 2023 – Rep. Michael Bost, Illinois’ 12th Congressional District and Rep. Mark Takano, California’s 39th District
- 2022 – Rep. Michael Levin, California’s 49th Congressional District and Rep. Barry Moore, Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District
- 2021 – Senator Jerry Moran and Senator Jon Tester
- 2020 – The Honorable Susie Lee and Denver Riggleman, U.S. House of Representatives
- 2019 – Rep. Jodey Arrignton and Rep. Mark Takano
- 2017 – Chairman Phil Roe and Rep Tim Walz
- 2016 – Not Awarded
- 2015 – Chairman Jeff Miller (FL-1; RET.)
- 2025 – Howard University’s Office of Military and Veterans Affairs
- 2024 – Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration
- 2023 – The Texas A&M University System
- 2022 – University of South Carolina
- 2021 – Chancellor Daniel T. Allison, Fayetteville State University
- 2020 – Dr. Philomena V. Mantella, President of Grand Valley State University
- 2019 – Dr. Gerard P. Clancy, President of The University of Tulsa
- 2018 – Dr. Tony Frank, Colorado State University
- 2017 – Not Awarded
- 2016 – Not Awarded
- 2015 – Kent Syverud, Syracuse University