Eleven Syracuse University student veterans traveled to Colorado Springs in January for the 18th Annual Student Veterans of America National Conference, the largest gathering of student veterans in the world. The 4-day event brings together thousands of student veterans for workshops, career development, and networking with peers and employers.
The Office of Veteran and Military Affairs covered registration, lodging, and travel made possible by donor support to the Veteran Legacy Fund, which supports programs, financial assistance, and community-building initiatives for veteran and military-connected students at Syracuse University. Dwayne Murray, deputy director, and Jennifer Pluta, director of veteran career services, accompanied the students.
“Attending NATCON with our fantastic military-connected students is something I look forward to every year,” Murray said. “Our students work so hard during the semester in the classroom. It is wonderful to see them interact in this space with other talented military-connected students.”
Rebecca Less, a law student and member of the Military and Veterans Law Society, pointed to a standout leadership panel featuring James Mattis, retired Marine Corps general and former U.S. secretary of defense, and Frank Ryan, a partner at global law firm DLA Piper.
“Mattis spoke about ‘running the ethical midfield,’ standing firm in your values and grounding decisions in fact,” Less said. “It built a powerful picture of what kind of leader I should strive to be.” Less connected the message to lessons she has learned at Syracuse Law about moral courage. She plans to apply what she took away through her work with the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic, where she serves veterans in the Syracuse community.
“The most valuable thing I took away is that it only takes one person to start a chain reaction,” she said. “I had the opportunity to meet incredible people who recognized an issue and did something about it.”
Edgar DeMesa, a member of the Student Veteran Organization, returned focused on strengthening the military-connected community on campus. DeMesa plans to translate the energy of the conference into everyday support at Syracuse, building connections among students and ensuring the chapter remains a place where veterans feel supported and informed.
“When student veterans are given opportunities to learn, connect, and lead, the impact ripples far beyond one event or one campus,” DeMesa said.
Less had a message for the donors who helped make this trip possible.
“Thank you for investing in the belief that service does not end when the uniform comes off,” she said. “Your generosity made it possible for me to stand among a national community of student veterans committed to lifting one another up. I carry this responsibility forward with purpose and deep gratitude.”
Opportunities like NatCon reflect a longstanding commitment by the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs and Syracuse University to student veterans, extending learning and leadership beyond the classroom. Those interested in supporting student veterans at Syracuse University can learn more about the Veteran Legacy Fund at veterans.syr.edu/support-us.
