Jurgen Baeza Bernal ’26 traveled a circuitous path to Syracuse University, but he’s finally cracked the code on what his future holds. Before arriving, the California native explored an array of interests at San Diego State University, served nearly seven years in the U.S. Navy and possessed a longtime fascination with computer coding. “When I was a teenager, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life,” he says. “But as I grew older and the military instilled discipline in me and gave me a sense of direction, I knew I should focus on what I wanted to do and my education when I got out.”
Education has always been important to Baeza Bernal—and Syracuse University had long been in the back of his mind. The initial introduction came in high school, courtesy of NCAA March Madness basketball. And when he focused on using his veteran benefits and returning to college, he learned about Syracuse’s reputation as a “great place” for student veterans and appreciated the information he received from the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA). “I was very excited to go back to school,” he says, “because at the end of the day, my main priority was to finish school and get my bachelor’s degree.”
Connecting With Student Veterans
When Baeza Bernal arrived at the University, he was apprehensive about associating with student veterans, wanting to put his military career behind him. That changed, however, through the efforts of fellow student veteran Savion Pollard ’25, who reached out to Baeza Bernal as a mentor and encouraged him to give the Student Veteran Organization (SVO) a try, letting him know it was a good way to connect with members who would understand what he was going through.
A 2023 OVMA spring-break immersion trip to Atlanta also helped Baeza Bernal ease through the transition. The group met with veteran-friendly companies and student veteran alumni, visited Tyler Perry Studios, attended an Atlanta Hawks game and explored the city. In addition, he struck up a friendship with then-SVO President John Nipper ’23, G’24, who, like Pollard, motivated him to become involved in the organization. He’s now the secretary of SVO, helping plan events, welcoming veterans to campus and sharing advice. “I’m in school trying to get my degree, but there are other student veterans and veterans in general who don’t realize how many benefits they have,” says Baeza Bernal, who has also worked at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families. “I want to be more vocal about letting veterans know about their benefits and help them achieve whatever they want to do.”