SU ceremony honors veterans, highlights campus military resources
Syracuse University held a ceremony Tuesday to honor Veteran’s Day as speakers highlighted SU’s support for the military community. They labelled its veteran programs a national model, calling for more understanding and communication on hardships. Eli Schwartz | Staff Photographer
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United States Air Force veteran Gen. Lester Lyles said Syracuse University offers the “best programs” for veterans while speaking at Tuesday’s Veteran Day Ceremony.
On Tuesday morning, over 200 people gathered at the K.G. Tan Auditorium in the National Veterans Resource Center to honor service members. Speakers at the event commended SU’s military services and resources available through its several veteran offices.
Savion Pollard, U.S. Navy veteran and 2025 student veteran of the year, spoke about the support and confidence he’s gained at SU through fellow student veterans and leaders.
“I am grateful for the university’s undeniable commitment to this community,” he said. “Not just a commitment with words, but one through actions like erecting this great building that houses the offices and people whose work is so pivotal for military-connected success.”
Pollard said he doesn’t believe there is anything more SU could be doing for veterans. This year, SU ranked 45th for best colleges for veterans, dropping two places from 2024.
Brian Bennett, a U.S. Army veteran, and John Dickens, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, both work for the SU Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
Both decided to come to SU because of its reputation for treating and training veterans, they said.
Dickens participated in Onward to Opportunity, a free career program that offers training for certifications through the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Beyond ROTC, other university resources include the Office of Veteran Success, Veteran Career Services and Office of Veterans and Military Affairs.
Eli Schwartz | Staff Photographer
“I used the (human resources) certification training as well,” Dickens said. “There’s a lot that supports the veterans here, and it’s great to see that it supports families, it supports the whole veteran community.”
Lyles said SU should serve as an example to other colleges and universities in developing similar systems to support veterans, but said the treatment of veterans at the national level should continue improving.
“There needs to be more communication about what the veteran life is like and what the challenges are and what the opportunities are, most people just don’t understand that,” Lyles said.
He praised the NVRC for communicating the challenges veterans face.
SU Chancellor Kent Syverud also gave remarks, saying the presence of veterans on campus enhances the university’s culture and reputation. He thanked active and retired military personnel for their service and made a call to action to other institutions.
“Syracuse University cannot do alone what this country needs to do for the higher education of our living veterans,” Syverud said. “We need other colleges and universities to follow our lead, to embrace best practices, to serve all our veterans the way you at Syracuse serve our veterans.”
Pollard said he believes veterans are important to the university community.
“It’s just important to know that we are in the classrooms,” Pollard said. “We’re here, and the university supports us, and the community supports us, and it feels really good.”
