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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 University of Maryland Global Campus Veterans Day ceremony.

This award is available to any full-time UMGC 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 UMGC 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 UMGC

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 UMGC's Veterans Initiatives Office.

Award Information

This award is named for UMGC 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 UMGC classroom ("The Five Evidences of an Education" by the American philosopher, diplomat, and educator Nicholas Murray Butler). UMGC 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 UMGC Veterans Day event. Attendance at the Veterans Day event is requested; travel arrangements will be made by UMGC.

 

Recent Recipients

  • 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

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Nominate a Student Veteran

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

Nominator Information

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

Nominee (Student) Information

Nominee's Current Military Status is a required field.
Nominee's Military Affiliation is a required field.

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