Military-connected students from Syracuse University returned from a three-day trip to Walt Disney World Resort earlier this month. While many of their classmates enjoyed the remaining class-free days of their winter break, the group of 14 students were in Florida attending the Student Veterans of America 15th Annual National Conference (NATCON). Additionally, eight staff members from Syracuse University’s Office of Veteran and Military Affairs and the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families , which boasts the largest gathering for the military-connected community within higher education.
The students were mostly comprised from the Student Veterans Organization, Syracuse University’s official student association focused on support, advocacy, and camaraderie for the campus military-connected community. The conference serves as an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of student veterans and their advocates in higher education, but the schedule-packed days also afford opportunities to speak with veteran-inclusive companies, advocacy organizations, and even express their support or concern for future legislation impacting the military community.
Cadets from the university’s two Reserve Officer Training Corps detachments were also given the opportunity to take part in the unique student experience. As future military officers, they received exposure to the broad range of programs and services that will be available to them and their future subordinates upon separation from the military.
“Student Veterans of America’s National Conference kicks off a new year for student veterans, military-connected students, survivors and those who support them, and provides a unique opportunity for employers looking to empower this incredibly talented population,” said Student Veterans of America National President & CEO Jared Lyon. “This year’s 15th Annual celebration marks a legacy of leadership, opportunity, and service that will reverberate for years to come.”
To attend NATCON, the students first had to apply for one of the lucrative conference tickets the OVMA provides each year. Thanks to donations to the Veterans Legacy Fund, the OVMA covers the cost of conference registration, airfare, and lodging for a certain number of Syracuse University students each year. In exchange for the free opportunity, the students must explain what benefit they hope to receive from going to the conference and how it will help them achieve their professional or educational goals.
Many military-connected students attend NATCON to speak to a banquet hall full of companies looking to hire veterans, veteran services organizations educating about their services, and advocacy groups seeking input on current legislation for policies impacting veterans. For those students who are members of the SVO’s executive board, going to NATCON also includes an opportunity to gain valuable lessons on running a students veteran organization on campus.
“A big moment for me was during one of the breakout sessions. I realized before looking onward to after graduating from Maxwell and Whitman next year that there are several ways in which I can serve my community right here in Syracuse, beyond the SVO or being an EMT,” said Anthony Ruscitto ’22, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and the President of Syracuse University’s SVO. “The best aspect of the conference this year was the student veterans and staff we took though. Each of us are different in ways beyond just our service branch. We all had different career goals and background but definitely grew a lot closer and learned more about each other over the week. I’d recommend every S.U. student veteran apply to go every year, if possible,” Ruscitto said.
In addition to being the SVO’s President, Ruscitto, a graduate student with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, was among the eight finalists in the running for Student Veteran of the Year this year. While a student from Loyola University walked away with the top honors this year, Ruscitto did have a unique opportunity that most college students would never experience.
“The most significant and certainly most exciting moment was being able to address the entire conference and formally introduce Denis McDonough, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,” says Ruscitto. “It was a humbling and very rewarding experience to be recognized, I can’t believe where I am today after looking back at the last four years.”
Ruscitto and other student veterans were also afforded an opportunity to sit down with the U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, to discuss the challenges facing veterans in higher education. Student veterans at Syracuse University enjoy an uncanny level of support that is unheard of at most colleges and universities, due largely to Chancellor Kent Syverud declaring that supporting veterans would be a university initiative during his inaugural address. The university is often used as an example on best practices for educating veterans.
“Speaking as a second-year PhD student at Maxwell, I can confirm that Syracuse University is a truly remarkable place for veterans,” said Lyon, who in addition to being the SVA’s president is also pursuing a doctoral degree in social science with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. “So, it was no surprise that one of Syracuse University’s very own, Anthony Ruscitto, was honored as a Student Veteran of the Year finalist at the SVA Honors Luncheon, amongst so many exceptional student veterans present,” Lyon said.
One of the reasons NATCON draws such a large attendance each year is the opportunity to learn about the latest programs and resources available for student veterans and the military-community. Members from the D’Aniello Institute’s Research& Data Analytics team presented their latest findings and publications directly to the audience their research impacts the most, while representatives from the OVMA shared their knowledge and experience with other chapters through presentations and guided discussions.
One of the reasons NATCON draws such a large attendance each year is the opportunity to learn about the latest programs and resources available for student veterans and the military-community. Members from the D’Aniello Institute’s Research& Data Analytics team presented their latest findings and publications, directly to the audience, along with their research that impact student veterans Representatives from the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) shared their knowledge and experience with other chapters through presentations and guided discussions.
One breakout session, led by IVMF Associate Director for Research and Evaluation, Dr. Linda Euto, was a panel discussion on myths and misconceptions about student veterans and veterans in today’s society. As part of the presentation, those attending, including the panel, engaged in the interactive discussion via a mobile application that generated a word cloud based on the words submitted by the audience. What happened next caught Dr. Euto’s as well as the panel and audiences’ attention. .
Questions were asked about common misconceptions of veterans and student veterans. “This yielded a field of mostly negative words. Words such as “PTSD,” “veterans being old or hostile,” and ”must have failed in school,” filled the word cloud said Euto, who along with other members of the IVMF research team have compiled examples of misconceptions about veterans for several years prior.
After a brief discussion of the snap poll, an audience member suggested that we replace “misconceptions” with something more positive. Thus, the audience took the poll again, this time replacing the ‘misconceptions’ with the word ‘attributes.’ Instantly, says Dr. Euto, the words within the cloud were dramatically different.
“Words like innovative, reliable, and driven pushed out all the negative words,” said Euto. “It inspired a lot of conversation focused on how we talk about student veterans, veterans in employment, as well as the portrayal of veterans in the media. Seeing the words change, in real-time made for a powerful discussion. My panelists, including colleagues from IVMF, OVMA, as well as a student veteran at Syracuse University, added so much to the conversation. I felt fortunate to have them to share their voices and experiences.” In all, staff from Syracuse University contributed more than 14 hours over the course of the three days, sharing valuable insights and information on what makes Syracuse University the best place for veterans.
Syracuse University staff members, and their discussion topics were:
Melissa Bird
D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families
Project Manager – Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneurship: How to Get Started
Dr. Linda Rougeau Euto
D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families
Associate Director, Research & Evaluation
- Myth Busting: Confronting Common Misconceptions about Student Veterans
- The IVMF Digital Library: The Right Information and Resources for Serving Veterans
- VET-SIM: A Potential Game Changer for Student Veterans Facing Unique Challenges in Higher Education
Misty Fox
D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families
Director of Entrepreneurship & Small Business
- Insights from Veteran Entrepreneurs; Lessons Learned to Better Serve other Disadvantaged Groups.
Rosalinda Vasquez-Maury:
D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families
Director of Applied Research & Analytics
- Myth Busting: Confronting Common Misconceptions about Student Veterans.
- Insights from Veteran Entrepreneurs; Lessons Learned to Better Serve other Disadvantaged Groups.
Ron Novack (U.S. Army Colonel, Retired)
Office of Veteran and Military Affairs
Executive Director
- Creating Community Through Mentorship, Networking, Career Exploration, and Job Connections.
- Fundraising in Higher Education for Student Veterans.
Jennifer Pluta
Office of Veteran and Military Affairs
Director of Veteran Career Services
- Creating Community through mentorship, networking, career exploration, and job connections.
- Fundraising in Higher Education for Student Veterans.
Grace Swinnerton
D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families
Visiting Librarian
- The IVMF Digital Library: The Right Information and Resources for Serving Veterans.
Dr. Mirza Tihic
Martin J. Whitman School of Management
Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship
- Insights from Veteran Entrepreneurs; Lessons Learned to Better Serve other Disadvantaged Groups
OVMA Executive Director Ron Novack is no stranger to NATCON, and over the years he has contributed his extensive knowledge on how SVA chapters can make their fundraising efforts more effective. He’s not only seen, firsthand, how much the event has grown in size over the years, but he’s also been a part of making Syracuse University’s presence at NATCON so impactful.
“Syracuse University has historically enjoyed a large presence at NATCON every year because we have been in the veterans education space for decades,” said Novack. “Schools that are just getting started with their student veterans initiatives look to us and seek out our knowledge, and our experience. We stand out because our university stands behind us, and that’s what makes Syracuse the Best place for Veterans.”
The 16th Annual NATCON is scheduled to take place in Nashville, Tennessee, from January 4 – 6 in 2024. Military-connected students interested in attending NATCON should sign up for OVMA’s newsletter to stay informed on application deadlines and information sessions. Those interested in supporting student veterans at Syracuse University should visit the Veteran Legacy Fund, and help continue Syracuse University’s tradition of service to veterans and military students.