On Friday, October 26, 2012, 15 Tillman Military Scholars (TMS) converged in my hometown of Flint, Michigan to build group unity, network and perform community service. Flint is not the ideal community you think of when people discuss regional gatherings of any kind. It has received a gauntlet of negative media because of its violent crime, depressed economy, high unemployment rate and an even higher rate of poverty. However, Flint is slowly on the rebound and I was happy to be able to share its revitalization with my fellow TMS. We took them to one new local hangout in the redeveloped downtown area and spent some time on campus at the University of Michigan-Flint. If Flint were the “city on a hill”, the University of Michigan-Flint would definitely be the shining jewel at the hilltop. UM-Flint has experienced significant growth during and what many called have called ‘the hardest economic times Flint has ever had to endure’.  Chancellor Ruth Person and the University of Michigan-Flint are dedicated to providing the very best support to student Veterans.

Tillman Military Scholars met with UM-Flint Chancellor Ruth Person at last month's Regional Gathering on the campus.

On Saturday, we performed community service at Carriage Town Ministries (CTM), a local community service agency that has been providing free food, shelter and clothing to individuals and families in need since 1950. Words can’t express the level gratitude I have for my fellow TMS who took time out of their busy lives to come to my city and serve my community members who need it most. On the surface it would appear that the group of TMS had no solid connection to those they were helping; only a couple of us had historical ties to the Flint community. Yet as I sat in the van as we pulled away from the parking lot of CTM, it struck me that this service opportunity was about more than physical community connections.

Tillman Military Scholars performed a community service project at Carriage Town Ministries in Flint, MI.

It was about strengthening the human spirit of a community who would walk into CTM the next day for services. The actions of the TMS were an honest reflection of their integrity and selflessness. It spoke volumes of the impact that military servicemembers stand to make beyond their military service requirements. It is at THAT moment, riding away in that van, that I felt we collectively embodied the legacy of Pat Tillman and I was most proud to be a Tillman Military Scholar and a part of this unique community.

I was able to attend the Pat Tillman Leadership Summit just a couple days ago and I was intrigued by such an event. As a new Tillman Military Scholar, I thought the Summit was a great way to connect, network and learn about other Scholars. I was absolutely humbled to be surrounded by such educated, successful and inspiring people (and perhaps a little out of place).

The University of Minnesota partnered with the Pat Tillman Foundation this year and we are honored to be ambassadors. Our university representative was able to gather a lot of good ideas and resources to help enhance our veterans programs at the university.

We are looking forward to getting more involved by participating in community events and helping make our university more veteran friendly by providing the necessary tools and resources for their academic success.

The University of Minnesota Scholars were all happy to meet Marie Tillman and hear her story – what a remarkably strong and extremely inspirational woman!

Guest Blogger: Chad Waltz, Tillman Military Scholar Class 4, Arizona State University

TMS Chad Waltz takes a break during the 2012 Arizona Coalition for Military Families Veteran Symposium.

TMS Chad Waltz sits in an F-16 Flight simulator.

Last weekend, a dozen Tillman Military Scholars met in Eugene, Oregon, on the campus of the University of Oregon for the Tillman Military Scholars Northwest Regional Gathering. The cool wet climate of the Pacific Northwest provided a change of pace for Scholars traveling from as far away as Texas and Arizona. In between workshops covering team building, leadership, career decisions and effective communication, Scholars worked hard to spruce up a low income housing complex, toured the first-class Oregon Duck athletic facilities, and spent time building the Tillman Community network.

Tillman Military Scholars take part in leadership training and team building activities at the University of Oregon.

To kick off the weekend, we met on Friday night for dinner in the atrium of the John Jaqua Academic Center and were introduced to leadership expert Bill Grace, who provided an illuminating experience as he helped us look within ourselves to find our core values – a theme that would continue throughout the weekend. Saturday morning we met for an incredible team building workshop with Nancy Heapes. Group juggling, flipping a parachute and placing a ball in a bucket seem like simple enough tasks; however, they proved difficult for a group of leaders. Some of us found our voice while others found our “mute button.” We all found friends and all of us left for lunch hungry. After dinning on Sy’s world famous pizza, we met with Bill Grace for a second time. Bill is an amazing speaker. It is impossible for me to accurately depict the intensity of our discussions. But, by the end of the afternoon we were all contemplating how we can use our core values in order to work towards the “common good.”

Later Saturday afternoon we had the opportunity to tour the un-paralleled Duck athletic facilities. Walking down the tunnel that my Ducks traverse prior to each game was, I hope, as exciting for everyone else as it was for me! However, the training tables covered in Maserati leather, the underwater treadmills and the 117,000 square-foot indoor football field all took a back seat to the 2012 Pac-12 and Rose Bowl trophies!

Tillman Military Scholars stop for a photo on the 50-yard line of Autzen Stadium during a tour the University of Oregon athletic facilities.

Sunday morning Scholars attended workshops on career development and effective communication. In the afternoon the Tillman Military Scholars teamed with approximately 25 volunteers from the UO Law School’s Public Interest Public Service program (PIPS) to serve a low-income housing complex operated by St. Vincent de Paul. Scholars and PIPS volunteers painted a community room and laundry facility, removed weeds and laid bark-mulch in playground areas and around buildings. They also began preparations for a raised community garden to be used in the near future by residents of the complex.

Tillman Military Scholars lead a service effort at St. Vincent de Paul's veterans housing.

Scholars ended the weekend with a tour of the Rogue Brewery in downtown Eugene. Dinner provided one last opportunity for Scholars to swap stories and build relationships. The weekend gathering was filled with fun engaging activities that provided, at least for me, plenty of life-defining moments. I can only hope to be a part of another Regional Gathering soon!

TMS Dane Parker and April Ellsworth working in Vet Court.

The University of Arizona Tillman Military Scholar law students also help the Vet Court’s presiding judge, Hon. Michael Pollard (a Vietnam vet), with the Tucson Stand Down and provide a continuing legal education session to Arizona’s attorneys in order to help lawyers understand veterans as clients.

TMS April Ellsworth with Judge Pollard at the Tucson Stand Down.

Next semester, they will begin appeals of denials of VA benefits and assist Arizona’s Native vet population with legal matters specific to the Tribes.

The veteran’s advocacy center is being directed by alumni TMS and recent Rogers College of Law graduate Kris Carlson.

Tillman Military Scholars April Ellsworth, Matt Randle, Kris Carlson and Dane Parker in the Vet Clinic office at Rogers College of Law.

Chris and Frank were joined on the field during the second quarter by University of Arkansas Chancellor G. David Gearhart, Texas A&M University President Dr. R. Bowen Loftin and Pat Tillman Foundation Director of Programs Hunter I Riley. As the largest jumbotron in the world flashed a view of Scott Medlock’s “Tribute to Pat Tillman” and the Foundation logo, the 65,000 plus audience united in an standing ovation.

(L to R) Chris Grisham, Arkansas Chancellor G. David Gearhart, Hunter I Riley, Frank Cisneros, Texas A&M President Dr. R. Bowen Loftin

Chris proudly represented the seventeen Arkansas Tillman Military Scholars, while Frank represented the eight Texas A&M Tillman Military Scholars. In all, 171 Tillman Military Scholars are attending universities across the country.

One highlight came on Monday, July 11, when after a morning of leadership and career workshops, approximately 225 volunteers, 90 of whom were Tillman Military Scholars and 15 of whom were boys from Baltimore Raven Domonique Foxworth’s Baltimore BORN organization, carried out a clean-up and beautification effort in the Oliver neighborhood of Baltimore as a part of the Pat Tillman Legacy Summit Day of Service. In only 4 hours in the neighborhood, an economically depressed and crime-ridden area featured in the popular television series The Wire, volunteers gathered and removed garbage by the truckload, overfilling a 40-yard city dumpster and covering an area a 1/2 mile long and a 1/4 mile wide. In addition, weeds were trimmed, fresh mulch was laid down and a large mural was painted.

Pat Tillman Legacy Summit Day of Service in the Oliver Neighborhood of Baltimore. Photo by Josh Davidson.

Another highlight came at Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, July 12, when Tillman Military Scholars split into teams by state to meet with their congressional representatives. In over 35 meetings – a majority of  which were with the Representative and/or Senator themselves – Scholars built awareness for the Pat Tillman Foundation and Tillman Military Scholars program and offered themselves as a resource to their representatives.

Tillman Military Scholars at the U.S. Capitol. Photo by Josh Davidson.

To view more photos of Tillman Military Scholars in action, visit these links on Flicker – Day of Service & Capitol Hill – or find the Pat Tillman Foundation on Facebook.

Well the road to graduation is complete and I have obtained my Master’s Degree in Business Administration. My life journey from 2006, when my husband was injured, to now has been filled with ups and downs, but I have to say walking across that stage was one of the highlights. Thank you to all of you that supported me, helped me complete my thesis and encouraged me. I couldn’t have done it without you. The biggest thanks is to the Pat Tillman Foundation. The support and financial assistance made it possible for me to complete this journey and start down the road of finding a new career that will help me support my family. We are indeed grateful.
 
I look forward to attending Pat’s Run and other events each year and meeting more and more Scholars and helping where I can.

Most recently, from May 6-8, WWAST played three games in the Washington, D.C. area.  First, they took on FBI agents at George Mason University Softball Stadium, next they played Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) Personnel at WRAMC Forest Glen Annex and in their final game they faced the U.S. Naval Academy Varsity Sailing Team at the Naval Support Activity Annapolis Softball Field.

“It’s a great way for us to connect with other servicemembers who are facing similar challenges,” said Gibson. “It also gives us a chance to show the country how resilient we are. No matter what happens in combat, we can still achieve our goals at home and rise above any challenge.”

The team debuted in March at the University of Arizona (a Tillman Military Scholar University Partner) and has plans to tour the country playing softball and raising awareness. And most recently, Spanky was featured in a USO public service announcement filmed during his WWAST involvement.

Chris (far right) with President Barack Obama in the Wolstein Pavilion Conference Center Green Room at CSU on February 22, 2011 (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza).

Along with several other students, Chris was invited to join a youth round table at the Wolfstien Center at Cleveland State University with Kaplen Modi, Liaison to Young Americans from the Office of Public Affairs at the White House. The meeting covered many topics, as Chris states, “Mr. Modi covered the views of President in regards to young Americans in our economy, and how they play an essential role in the future of America. Mr. Modi then heard our thoughts and opinions on what we were doing as young leaders of our community and what our ideas were to create new jobs, to fuel the economy…this was the main point throughout the meeting. In the last 10 minutes of the meeting, President Obama walked in, we all stood up and he shook our hands and sat down and he made himself available to hear the most important issues we had previously covered. Three of the students spoke to him; I was one. I told him about how good CSU was doing in terms of veterans and I mentioned how beneficial veterans can be on the community and for the economy in the future with their education provided by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.”

Tillman Military Scholar Chris Rushin (left corner) listens as President Barack Obama speaks with the Young Engagement Roundtable at the Winning the Future Forum on Small Business at CSU  in Cleveland, Ohio on Feb. 22, 2011. This photo was the “picture of the day” from the White House website (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza).