Student Veteran of the Year

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This award recognizes student veterans who have excelled in their academic and military careers.

The recipient of the General John W. Vessey, Jr. Student Veteran of the Year Award receives a $3,000 refundable scholarship and recognition at the ��鱨վ Veterans Day ceremony.

This award is available to any full-time ��鱨վ student in good academic standing who is currently serving or has previously served in the U.S. armed forces. Nominations are accepted August 1–September 1 each year.

If you have any questions, please email vesseyvrc@umgc.edu.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for this award, a student must:

Be currently enrolled at ��鱨վ as a full-time student in good standing
Be currently serving or have previously served in the U.S. armed forces
Have a cumulative minimum GPA of 3.0
Have earned 30 credits at the undergraduate level or 12 credits at the graduate level, not including transfer credits
Have exceptional moral character and dedication to military service
Not be a member of the staff or a student worker of ��鱨վ

How to Apply

Students, staff, and faculty who wish to nominate a student veteran should submit a 400–500 word nomination letter to vesseyvrc@umgc.edu
The nomination letter should outline the student's dedication to the military and detail all the ways they have excelled in the classroom.
Students are also permitted to nominate themselves for this award, provided they meet all the eligibility criteria.
Each application will be reviewed by a committee from ��鱨վ's Veterans Initiatives Office.

Award Information

This award is named for ��鱨վ alumnus General John W. Vessey, Jr., the only chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who began his military career as an enlisted servicemember. A lifelong advocate of education, Vessey said that he tried to pattern his own life after a lecture he first heard in a ��鱨վ classroom ("The Five Evidences of an Education" by the American philosopher, diplomat, and educator Nicholas Murray Butler). ��鱨վ is proud to offer this award in General Vessey's name.

The Student Veteran of the Year award includes a $3,000 refundable scholarship, as well as recognition as the General John W. Vessey, Jr. Student Veteran of the Year during the ��鱨վ Veterans Day event. Attendance at the Veterans Day event is requested; travel arrangements will be made by ��鱨վ.

Recent Recipients

2025
Shaun Paris, Staff Sergeant
U.S. Army
2024
Ehsan Jamshidi, Gunnery Sergeant
U.S. Marine Corps
2023
Dalton J. Berry, Sergeant
U.S. Marine Corps
2022
Marvin E. Lazo, Technical Sergeant
U.S. Air Force
2021
Devon B. Nieve, Staff Sergeant
U.S. Marine Corps

2020
Joseph Cabrera, Master Sergeant
U.S. Air Force
2019
Marie L. Villegas, Master Sergeant
U.S. Air Force, Retired
2018
Kenny Saavedra, Gunnery Sergeant
U.S. Marine Corps
2017
Alicia Hunt, Staff Sergeant
U.S. Air Force

Admissions Events

Get to know ��鱨վ by registering for an event online or at one of our regional locations.

Nominate a Student Veteran

Please fill out the form below to nominate a student veteran. All fields are mandatory unless otherwise specified.

Nominator Information

Email Address

Required

Please check your email (example: email@domain.com).

Nominator Email is a required field.

Relationship to Nominee

Required

Relationship to Nominee is required.

Relationship to Nominee Details

Required

Relationship to Nominee Detail is required.

First Name

Required

Nominator First Name is a required field.

Last Name

Required

Nominator last name is a required field.

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Please check your phone number format (numbers only).

Nominator Phone is required.

City

Required

Nominator city is a required field.

State

Required

Nominator State is a required field.

Zip Code

Required

Please check your format (numbers only).

Nominator Zip Code is required.

Would you like us to notify the nominee of their nomination?

Required

Would you like us to notify the nominee of their nomination is a required field.

Nominee (Student) Information

First Name

Required

Nominee's First Name is a required field.

Last Name

Required

Nominee's last name is a required field.

��鱨վ Student ID/EmplID

Required

Nominee's Student ID is a required field.

Nominee's Current Military Status

Required

Nominee's Current Military Status is a required field.

Nominee's Military Affiliation

Required

Nominee's Military Affiliation is a required field.

Please provide a detailed nomination outlining the student’s distinguished military service, exemplary moral character, and outstanding academic achievements in accordance with the eligibility criteria for the Student Veteran of the Year Award (400-word count minimum, Microsoft Word documents only).

Essay File is required.

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