Tillman Military Scholar Rick Schumacher, Park University

Guest Blogger: Rick Schumacher, Tillman Military Scholar Class 2, Park University

I haven’t really run since I left the Army. That was in 2004. I have a couple of pretty severe back injuries that have always held me back. Last year, I helped with Pat’s Run Shadow Run in Austin, TX and had the opportunity to represent Tillman Military Scholars side-by-side with TMS Angela Durko. She ran and I stayed behind guarding the purses, water and breakfast tacos.  At the end of that Pat’s Run, Angela challenged me to run with her the next year.

In August, I quit smoking. In January, I joined a gym. Those 4.2 miles ran off in the distance. I was looking forward to meeting the challenge that Angela had given me. Then in March, I was accepted into a study that might help with one of my back injuries. I had two procedures and was immediately unable to walk without a cane. Since it was a new study, no one was entirely sure what the pain level would be like.  For weeks, I stumbled. I was unable to go to the gym. I was practically unable to get out of bed. I was sure at this point that I was not going to be able to meet my challenge. By now, Angela’s words were amplified. I thought about Pat Tillman, his legacy and my part of that legacy as a Tillman Military Scholar. I woke up early and stretched every day. I walked around the block with my cane. After a week I was able to walk without the cane for a bit. I was hoping to walk a portion of the 4.2 as a sign that I was trying to live up to the legacy.

The day of the run arrived. I woke up early. I was able to walk without the cane at all. I decided that I would suit up in my running clothes, just in case I was able to walk part of the course. I met up with Angela, the awesome ASU Alumni and 40 or so runners dressed in red and black Pat’s Run race shirts. We all walked down to the starting line on the edge of Lady Bird Lake in Austin. I thought about my past, as an Army Paratrooper, how 5Ks were a weekly routine. I thought again about Pat Tillman and what I thought he would have done. I saw photos from other Tillman Military Scholars getting set to run in Tempe. I thought about Angela’s challenge. And then I ran.

This past weekend I was able to attend the Clinton Global Initiative University at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. While there, I was able to connect with Tillman Military Scholars Amanda Thomson, Elizabeth O’Herrin and Cameron Waites, and attend with fellow Tillman Scholar-ASU Tyler Eltringham.

TS-ASU Tyler Eltringham, TMS Amanda Thomson, TS-ASU Priya Nathan and TMS Cameron Waites arrive at GWU for CGI U.

The experience was beyond amazing and the Tillman Scholar presence was strong as it has been at the past four conferences. Over 1,000 students from all 50 states, 82 countries and more than 300 universities were in attendance this past weekend.

During the Saturday sessions, I attended a panel on Education Reform, which helped inform the direction I am heading next with a position in Teach for America. Other sessions followed the topics of climate change, poverty and global health. I also attended one of the offered skills session, this one on how to raise money for an idea/project.

Tillman Scholars-ASU Priya Nathan and Tyler Eltringham on campus at George Washington University.

CGIU is a great way for an individual who has an idea to turn that idea into action. All of the panels (featuring individuals such as Usher, Kristen Bell, Jon Stewart and Madeline Albright) were informative and helped to drive home the importance of any idea to change a community, no matter how big or how small. Plus, as attendees, we got to interact with President Clinton and learn about what he is doing to change the world after his service as our President.

TS-ASU Priya Nathan (left) serves alongside President Clinton at the CGI U Day of Service.

Not only did we attend the conference sessions, we snuck in some time for Georgetown Cupcakes and some sightseeing in our nation’s Capitol City. And participated in the CGI U Day of Service, where we had the opportunity to serve in D.C.’s Ward 7 alongside President Clinton, current NFL WRs and Rhodes Scholar and Army veteran Wes Moore.

Donté Stallworth (New England Patriots WR), Anthony Armstrong (Washington Redskins WR), TMS Elizabeth O'Herrin, Torrey Smith (Baltimore Ravens WR) and TS-ASU Priya Nathan at the CGI U Day of Service.

This weekend was an amazing trip with memorable experiences (I got to shake President Clinton’s hand and discuss his vegan diet!) and opportunities to connect with fellow Scholars around the country!

Visit the Pat Tillman Foundation Facebook page to see some more pictures.

Pints for Pat drew an overflow crowd of attendees, including Pat’s Run sponsors, media, Tillman Military Scholars, Tillman Scholars-ASU, Pat’s former Sun Devil football teammates, Team Tillman members and Pat Tillman Foundation staff who gathered to pay tribute to Pat.

As has become tradition, Rula Bula is selling 1,442 commemorative Guinness pint glasses with Pat’s number 42 etched on one side and a word that exemplifies Pat’s character and values on the other side. This year’s edition features the word “Courage.” The glasses are available exclusively at Rula Bula for $10 each while they last. All proceeds benefit the Tillman Military Scholars program.

Ken Kobs, a member of Team Tillman New York, checks out a Guinness Beach Cruiser at last week's Pints for Pat silent auction.

“Pints for Pat” also featured a silent auction that raised approximately $4,000 for the Tillman Military Scholars program.

Rula Bula was an establishment frequented by Pat during his time in Tempe. Following his death in 2004, some of Pat’s friends would order a pint of Guinness whenever they visited the pub and leave the pint sitting untouched on the bar as a tribute to Pat – thus the “Pints for Pat” idea was born.

Tillman Military Scholar Rudy Rickner, Pat Tillman Foundation supporter Bill Murphy and PTF Board members Alex Garwood & Chris Hart (along with daughters Maya and Zoe Hart) took part in the 408K.

Among the participants in the 8K race were Tillman Military Scholar Rudy Rickner and Pat Tillman Foundation Board members Alex Garwood and Chris Hart.

The event started at HP Pavilion and ran alongside San Jose’s Municipal Rose Garden, the scene of Pat’s memorial service. The San Jose Mercury News featured this article on the 408K.

This past week I had the privilege of attending Inc. Magazine’s GrowCo event in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was quite an experience! As a Tillman Military Scholar, I was selected, along with fellow TMS Tim Smith, to attend as part of Inc.’s Military Entrepreneurs program (ME). The ME Program, in its first year, has provided access to this event as well as the Inc. 500/5000 conference, which was held in D.C. this past September.

Tillman Military Scholars Rick Schumacher and Tim Smith tour the Intralox factory in New Orleans at the start of Inc.'s GrowCo conference.

I started the week off with a very early flight out of Austin, arriving in NOLA at around 9:00 a.m. and meeting up with Tim for some obligatory brunch and a walk down Bourbon. Just in time, we met up with the delegation and were fortunate enough to go on a tour of Intralox, a company that manufactures plastic formed conveyor belts for every purpose imaginable. From there we met up with the GrowCo attendees and mingled. Finally, Hunter Riley took Tim and I to eat at a favorite local food spot called Mississippi River Bottom (MRB).

The next morning we were in for some great speakers and abundant learning opportunities. The speakers included some of the brightest minds in business like Dr. Alexander Osterwalder, Neil Blumenthal, Jay Lapeyre, Chef John Besh and the indescribable Norm Brodsky. Additionally, we had a personal meeting with Shark Tank personality, Daymond John, the creator of the FUBU brand. We also had the opportunity to listen to political powerhouses like New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Louisiana Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne and, amazingly, President Bill Clinton. These speakers were each outstanding and having the opportunity to listen to them was really what being a Tillman Military Scholar is all about for me. The Foundation gives me opportunities that I would not otherwise have.

Pat Tillman Foundation Director of Programs Hunter I Riley (left) and Tillman Military Scholar Rick Schumacher (right) met with FUBU brand creator Daymond John at Inc. Magazine's GrowCo conference in New Orleans.

Most importantly, I had the opportunity to network with other veterans and military spouses as well as 500 other business owners. We had opportunities to be advised by successful business owners and exchange ideas with a mentor; mine who I’ve already exchanged emails with after leaving the conference. Thanks to the Pat Tillman Foundation, this has been one heck of an opportunity – one that will help shape the formation of my business for years to come.

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!

Last Friday, I joined about a hundred Habitat for Humanity volunteers and staff at the keynote address of Habitat for Humanity International’s Legislative and Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C., also dubbed Habitat on the Hill. The keynote speaker was Colonel David Sutherland who serves as the Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was speaking at Habitat on the Hill to address the attendees on warrior and family support as Habitat launches their nationwide veterans initiative.

I attended the event with fellow Tillman Military Scholars Meghan Lucas and Brett Gibson. We were honored as Colonel Sutherland recognized us as Tillman Military Scholars during his speech. The Colonel spoke about his job as champion of veteran support for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. It’s a big job and one that he finds rewarding and critical, particularly with so many veterans coming back from deployment in the current world climate.

Tillman Military Scholars Kenneth Ferrera, Meghan Lucas and Brett Gibson with Colonel David Sutherland.

After the speech, the Tillman Military Scholars had coffee with Colonel Sutherland. During our discussion, I learned we spent time at the same base in Iraq and knew some of the same people. He invited me to attend another speaking event with him the next day, which I accepted, at the American Academy of Physician Assistants, in Alexandria, VA. I begin Physician Assistant School at the University of Washington this summer, so it was quite a coincidence to attend this event with Colonel Sutherland.

This is a great example of how we as Tillman Military Scholars can use our influence to support these kinds of events and to promote the Pat Tillman Foundation, even after graduation. As more of us find ourselves away from school and in the real world, we can take the opportunities we get and put Pat’s name and the mission of the Foundation out there to make good things happen for others, just like the Foundation has done for us.

Tillman Military Scholars Danny Cho, Paul Stouffer and Justin Langlois with Admiral Mullen.

Paul Stouffer, Justin Langlois and Danny Cho had the opportunity to meet Admiral Mike Mullen, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during his recent visit to Harvard Business School. Admiral Mullen is a graduate of the HBS Advanced Management Program and returned to participate in one of the MBA classes. He met with HBS student veterans for an hour and a half for a candid Q&A session on current pressing global security issues. Paul, Justin and Danny had the opportunity for some one-on-one time with one of HBS’ more notable alums.

Admiral Mullen answers questions from Harvard Business School Tillman Military Scholars during a recent visit to Boston.

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.

On November 30, I joined three other fellow Marine Corps student veterans (Patrick Pennel-Pepperdine, Michael Hansen-SDSU and Rich Cervantes-SDSU) for Reflections from the Front Lines, fundraising panel discussion hosted by the San Diego Diplomacy Council at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice at USD.

Reflections from the Front Lines Panel Flyer

• What were the most profound moments of our experience?
• How did these wars influence the next steps in our lives?
• What would we want to tell future generations about war?
• What do we think was accomplished for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan?

Tillman Military Scholar Robin Williams speaks on the Reflections from the Front Lines panel. Photo by Ryan Talbot of The Shutter Project.

It was a great event with excellent turnout and audience participation and all proceeds from this event went to the Veterans Village of San Diego (VVSD), one of my favorite organizations in San Diego.

Robin Williams (2nd from Right) joins a panel hosted by the San Diego Diplomacy Council. Photo by Ryan Talbot of The Shutter Project.