Honors Awards

Nominate a fellow student veteran, chapter or chapter advisor to receive an award at NatCon.

Student Veterans of America Honors

SVA is proud to recognize outstanding chapters, advisors, and student veterans through our annual Honors Awards process. The 2025 honors awards nomination process will open in September 2025.

*Nominations should include highlights from January 2025 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 18th Annual NatCon in Colorado Springs, CO where recipients will be announced.

Student Veteran of the Year

Multiple nominations for the same nominee are accepted; must be a student veteran. Nominators will be asked to describe:

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.

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.

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.

Partners in Excellence

These awards recognize partners who integrate the mission of SVA into their own work, championing student veterans above and beyond their own call of duty.

Edelman (2024)

Fiserv (2024)

Johnson & Johnson (2024)

LinkedIn (2024)

Lockheed Martin (2024)

RTX (2024)

Past Recipients

Student Veteran of the Year

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

Chapter of the Year

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

Chapter Advisor of the Year

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

Partners in Excellence

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)

President's Service Award

2024 – Shawn Moore, Casper College (1,300 hours)
2023 – Christian Smith, Fordham University

Daniel J. Edelman Corporate Champion of the Year

2024 – The Walt Disney Company
2023 – RTX
2022 – Boeing
2021 – Comcast NBCUniversal
2020 – PwC Charitable Foundation
2019 – The Walt Disney Company

Dwight D. Eisenhower Distinguished Public Service Award

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

Senator Bob Dole Continued Service Award

2024 – Hiring Our Heroes

Sonny Montgomery Student Veteran Champion Award

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.)

William Pearson Tolley Champion for Veterans in Higher Education

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