United States Air Force Technical Sergeant Alexis Stanley is from Idaho Falls, Idaho, and she enlisted in the United States Air Force in March 2015.
Hometown Hero
Hometown Hero: Tania Gonzalez
After four years on active duty at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, she joined the U.S. Army Reserves as a 37F Psychological Operations Sergeant.
Hometown Hero: Cristian Bestul
United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Cristian Bestul hails from San Bernadino, California, and he enlisted in the Marine Corps on July 21st, 2014, as a Combat Cameraman.
Hometown Hero: Uma Lama
Uma Lama was born in Nepal and has been a resident of New York City since 2013. In 2018, she earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in Counseling from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Continue ReadingHometown Hero: Alexa Hernandez
United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Alexa Hernandez was born and raised in Miami, Florida. Staff Sergeant Hernandez enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in November 2016, and she completed Marine Recruit Training at Parris Island, South Carolina in 2017.
Continue ReadingHometown Hero: Dr. Ken Marfilius ’07
Dr. Ken Marfilius is a United States Air Force veteran, proud Syracuse University alumnus, and former Syracuse University student-athlete. Dr. Marfilius graduated from Syracuse University with an undergraduate degree in Psychology in 2007. He was also a student-athlete on the rowing team for all four years.
Hometown Hero: Mykala Keckeisen
United States Navy Mass Communications Specialist 2nd (MC2) Class Mykala Keckeisen was born and raised in the city of Madison, Wisconsin. She enlisted in the United States Navy and attended Recruit Training Command (RTC), Great Lakes, Illinois in December 2020. Following RTC, MC2 Keckeisen spent seven months at the Defense Information School in Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. MC2 Keckeisen graduated in the top five in her class and after completing “A” school, she arrived at her first duty station on the USS Nimitz (CVN 68).
Continue ReadingHometown Hero: Rolondo “Jun” Mari
United States Army Sergeant First Class Rolando “Jun” Mari was born in the Philippines and calls Bel Air, Maryland home. Sergeant First Class Mari entered the U.S. Army in 2011, completing Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, SC, and became a 36 Bravo, Financial Management Technician.
Continue ReadingHometown Hero: Dr. Don Cantwell, ’47, G’48
United States Navy World War II veteran, two-time Syracuse University alum, and renowned musician Don Cantwell was born in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1924 and graduated from Poughkeepsie High School in 1942. He attended St Lawrence University Navy V12 Officers Training Program from 1943-44 and later Notre Dame University’s Navy Midshipman School in 1944. Don attended the U.S. Navy School of Music in Washington, DC, in 1945 and later served with the Navy Flag Band Mediterranean Fleet before being discharged in 1945.
Continue ReadingHometown Hero: Michelle Johnson
United States Army retired Sergeant Major and current Syracuse University doctoral candidate Michelle M. Johnson was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from high school in 1992, Michelle attended Cleveland State University and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in communications. Later, she would complete her master’s degree in communications and leadership from Park University. Michelle joined the Ohio Army National in 1997 and completed basic training and advanced individual training at Ft. McClellan, Alabama, becoming a military police officer.
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