OVMA

Stories of Service: Adrian Weekly ‘20 and Joe Alfieri

Marine Corps Veteran Combat Photographer Adrian Weekly ‘20

It’s said a picture is worth a thousand words. For military service members who go forward into combat with a rifle and a camera, it’s more than just an adage.  Syracuse University student veteran Adrian Weekly ‘20 knows this all too well.

“I had enlisted in the Marine Corps to be an aviation mechanic,” said Weekly, a senior at the College of Visual and Performing Arts, studying Communications and Rhetorical Studies. “Then some people found out I could draw pretty well, and I was made into a combat photographer instead.”

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Stories of Service: Amanda Sullivan ’21 and Ken Marfilius ’11

In celebration of Veterans Week 2019, the University is recognizing stories of student veterans and faculty/staff who are veterans or have especially strong connections to the military. These stories are just some of the many from the veteran and military-connected community on campus whom the University is dedicated to supporting. From welcoming veterans to campus as far back as World War I, and having the longest consecutively running ROTC program in the country, the University is committed to being the “best place for veterans.”

Today, read the stories of Whitman School student Amanda Sullivan ’21 and Ken Marfilius ’11, visiting teaching professor in the Falk College’s School of Social Work.

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Inside Higher Ed calls Syracuse University ‘A Shining Exception’

Syracuse University had the privilege of welcoming Wick Sloane to our campus to meet and discuss Syracuse University’s initiative to support veterans. Sloane spent two days on campus interviewing many including Chancellor Kent Syverud, Vice-Chancellor and IVMF Executive Director Michael Haynie, and OVMA Executive Director Ron Novack. 

Hometown Hero: Amanda Sullivan

United States Army Veteran Amanda Sullivan was born and raised in the Chicago suburb of Aurora, IL. In 2014, she enlisted in the Army and attended basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and received military occupation training as a supply specialist at Fort Lee, Virginia.

Kwang G. Tan G’73 Donates $5 Million in Support of National Veteran Resource Center

When Kwang G. Tan G’73, Ph.D. learned about the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello Building (NVRC), he knew he wanted to support this new innovative center of research and hub of veteran life on campus. Tan is providing a $5 million gift toward this first-of-its-kind facility dedicated to academic research, programming and thought leadership that will address the social, economic and wellness concerns of the nation’s veterans and families.

Theater of War: A Powerful and Innovative Health Project

On Oct. 17, members of the Syracuse-area professional community gathered on Syracuse University’s South Campus for a full day of veteran cultural competency training followed by “Theater of War,” an innovative public health project designed to encourage thought and discussion around the impact of war and its challenges faced by military service members, veterans, their caregivers and their families.

Syracuse University Veteran and Military-Connected Enrollment Reaches Record High

This fall, Syracuse University’s total military-connected enrollment increased 14% from 1,206 to 1,375, including 96 new veteran and military-connected students. This class marks the highest student veteran enrollment in the post-9/11 era and raises the total veteran and military-connected enrollment to its highest mark in five years.

Military-Connected Student of the Month: Caleb Holmes

For some college students, juggling classes, a social life and a job is challenging enough. As non-traditional students become more of a fixture on college campuses, more students are juggling marriage, children, mortgage payments, car payments and family medical appointments while pursuing their academic goals. Such is the reality for Syracuse University student veteran Caleb Holmes, a senior studying electrical engineering.