On November 11, the Spartan community is coming together for a special Veterans Day fundraising campaign to support student veterans at MSU. It is receiving a special boost from retired MSU General Audit Director Tom Luccock and his wife Cathy who have made a challenge gift to help inspire others.
Thanks to Tom and Cathy’s generosity, gifts to the Student Veterans Resource Center (SVRC) during the Veterans Day #SupportSpartanVeterans campaign will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $3,000.
MSU faculty, staff and retirees long have been at the forefront with support for student veterans, which was highlighted at the Thanks for Giving luncheon held on October 4, 2021.
SVRC Director Patrick Forystek and Student Veteran Aaron Etelamaki noted that since 2020, MSU faculty staff and retirees have donated more than $56,000 to veteran causes at MSU.
The university has approximately 400 student veterans and nearly 2,000 military-connected students which includes active duty, reserves, National Guard, and dependent spouses and children.
The SVRC helps students navigate college successfully and is among the reasons MSU’s student veteran graduation rate is well over 70 percent, compared to just 11 percent nationally.
Aaron is planning to be one of those success stories. A first-generation college student, who up until enrollment at MSU two years ago had spent all of his adult life as a Marine, he has already completed 88 credits at MSU and has his eye on medical school.
Without the resources, opportunities and support, throughout and between dense semesters, I would not be the student with the track record, focus, and goals I have today. For them to include scholarships such as the Doane VET Success, I am endlessly thankful, honored and driven to continue making the most out of their support.
--AARON ETELAMAKI, ’22, Student Veteran
LEARN MORE about the campaign or make a gift at givingto.msu.edu/veterans-day.cfm.