51°µÍř

A United States Air Force veteran, David Lopez has found a community of support at 51°µÍř to help him transition to college life.

“We get the social, academic, physical, and emotional support needed to transition from military to college life,” he said. 

Coming to SSU from Springfield, Ohio, Lopez is the President of the Student Veterans of America, an organization dedicated to promoting service and leadership among veteran students on college campuses. 

“In my first term as president, I got the amazing opportunity to go to Washington, D.C. to represent our college and to attend a leadership institute,” he said. “I learned so many skills, like how to build the perfect team and how to be a perfect leader.” 

Working closely with the Office of Military & Veteran Services on campus, Lopez and his fellow student veterans have created a Service Corps organization, which is dedicated to volunteering and completing community service in the region. After Hurricane Helene last fall, the group worked with the Friends of Greenlawn Cemetery to clean up the debris in the city’s main cemetery. Through these opportunities, Lopez has been able to follow his passion for service while at the university.

“I’ve learned a lot, most importantly that leaders don’t just lead a group,” he said. “They work alongside people and learn about them so they can lead them in such a way that helps each and every member of the team grow.” 

Designated a Military-Friendly Campus and a Collegiate Purple Star Award recipient by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, SSU’s Office of Military & Veteran Services assists student veterans and military-affiliated students with accessing their military educational benefits while ensuring their transition to college life is smooth and helps set them up for success. This fall, the university saw a 55% increase in the enrollment of military-affiliated students. To learn more about the services offered within the Office of Military & Veteran Services, visit shawnee.edu/veterans.

This story was originally shared as part of the hour-long episode of The College Tour, featuring 51°µÍř. The Amazon Prime show tells the story of colleges and universities around the world. In the Shawnee State episode, sixteen unique students share their experiences of how the university has impacted their lives and prepared them for their future. To view the full episode, visit shawnee.edu/college-tour.