United States Army veteran and Syracuse University Student Miguel Pica grew up in Roseville, Michigan. Miguel enlisted in the U.S. Army, attended basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and became a wheeled diesel mechanic on May 5, 2015. Miguel comes from a long family legacy of service with five generations of Picas serving in our nation’s military. Miguel served for 3 ½ years at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in the 2nd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), known as the Night Stalkers. Miguel’s proudest military moments were being able to successfully complete SERE (Survive, Evade, Resist, and Escape) School in the summer of 2017, followed by the memory of being selected and completing the Enlisted Green Platoon for special operations. Unfortunately, due to injuries he incurred while serving on active duty, his service was cut short sooner than anticipated.
Miguel transitioned from military service to attend Syracuse University in the Fall of 2019, where he began the pursuit of his baccalaureate degree in Policy Studies at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs with minors in Public Health and Biology. As a senior with plans to graduate this fall and dreams to pursue a master’s degree in public health, Miguel’s service to others continues both on and off-campus. He dedicates his time to mentoring new student veterans arriving on campus while serving as the Peer Advisor for Veterans in Education (PAVE)Team Leader, remains involved with the University’s Student Veteran Organization (SVO), serves as one of the University Senators for undergraduates, and volunteers his time tutoring for La Casita Cultural Center.
Today, Miguel continues his undergraduate studies and lives in the city of Syracuse with his wonderful wife, Sara, and his one-year-old son, Lorenzo.