Service and Awareness Events

New York City

New York City Tillman Military Scholars joined with MissionServe, Bank of America and HBO, along with PTF staff members, to prepare emergency packets for homeless veterans in the city. Before the project, they also braved the cold to talk about their efforts on Good Morning America.

TMS Rudy Rickner (right) joins fellow Veterans Day volunteers on Good Morning America.

People Magazine Photo Shoot

NYU TMS Korey Calloway and Lyndsey Anderson joined PTF President Marie Tillman for a People Magazine photo shoot for a “Heroes Among Us” article.

TMS Korey Calloway and Lyndsey Anderson with Marie Tillman.

Blue Bloods Set Visit

PTF Program Coordinator Cara Hammer joined Team Tillman and PTF partner veterans on set in Brooklyn with Donnie Wahlberg, Tom Selleck and Bridget Moynahan.

PTF Program Coordinator Cara Hammer with Tom Selleck and PTF veteran supporters.

San Diego

Robin, Yana and her husband Arthur prepared lunch and dinner for the residents of the Veterans Village of San Diego while they marched in the San Diego County Veterans Day Parade. When the residents returned, TMS served lunch to over 300 residents and family members alongside some of VVSD’s current residents. Later, there was a brief ceremony/celebration of the Marine Corps’ 236th Birthday with Arthur being asked to help cut the cake as he was the youngest Marine on site. For those not familiar with Marine Corps Birthday tradition, the oldest Marine and youngest Marine take part in cutting the birthday cake.

TMS Robin Williams (middle left) and Yana Mukvich (right) with Yana's husband Arthur.

Los Angeles

Along with other volunteers, TMS Nicole Hart, Peter Thomas and Tristan Dyer planted approximately 40 Valencia trees at the VA Westwood campus in Los Angeles. As Nicole states it, “The energy of the day was rich with the willingness to serve; to give back to those, past and present, who have given so much to this country. It was an honor to be a part of such a day!”

TMS Nicole Hart, Peter Thomas and Tristan Dyer (with friend).

Tampa Bay

A week prior to Veterans Day, TMS Dave Warden, Grey Leonard and Josiah Hill rehabbed stables and riding areas for the Quantum Leap Farms, an equine therapy center serving disabled children and military in the Tampa area.

TMS Dave Warden and Josiah Hill.

University of South Florida

TMS Grey Leonard was the Master of Ceremonies as members of the Special Operations Parachute Demonstration Team kicked off the second annual Veterans Week Celebration at the University of South Florida Tuesday with a drop on the green next to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza.

TMS Grey Leonard.

Michigan

University of Michigan-Flint TMS Kyle Caywood and Tiffany Johnson were recognized by their Chancellor at the Veterans Day program – where Kyle served as MC. Later the next week, they met up with University of Michigan TMS John Shriver and Lindsay Compton to discuss Pat’s Run in April 2012.

Michigan TMS Kyle Caywood, John Shriver, Tiffany Johnson and Lindsay Compton.

Baltimore

TMS Rich Blake spoke with WYPR – Baltimore’s local NPR station – about Veterans Day and the work he and fellow veterans are conducting in local Baltimore neighborhoods. Listen to Rich’s interview.

TMS Rick Blake (2nd from left) in studio at Baltimore's WYPR.

University of Maryland

TMS Shelly Burgoyne spoke at the University of Maryland’s annual Veterans Day celebration.

Look for her at the end of this video.

Harvard

Harvard Business School’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony, spearheaded by TMS Danny Cho, welcomed 300 people to the HBS’s Armed Forces Alumni Association “Leadership Through Service” celebration and reception. Danny gave the welcoming speech, followed by Ian Walsh, SVP of Textron Systems and the club’s founding member, and Charles Bolden, the current NASA Administrator spoke about their views on what it means to be a veteran and what value veterans bring to the workforce.

TMS Danny Cho.

San Jose

Pat Tillman Foundation board member Alex Garwood participated in an honorary puck drop when the San Jose Sharks hosted the Phoenix Coyotes over Veterans Day weekend.

PTF Board Member Alex Garwood drops the opening puck. Pictured here with team captains Joe Thornton and Shane Doan.

Public Recognitions

Tillman Military Scholars were publicly recognized for Veterans Day on campuses across the country:

PTF Program Coordinator (center) with University of Maryland TMS Roel Mora, Kevin Kim, Josie O’Regan and Louis Thorne at the 4th Annual Veterans Reception.

San Diego State University TMS Yana Mukvich and Robin Williams recognized during the SDSU vs. University of Wyoming football game.

University of Oregon TMS Jeff Meray, Bryan Boender, Ryan Williams and Kelly Christensen recognized at the Veterans Day Ceremony.

Texas A&M University TMS Susan Stallings, Marisela Spangler and Cameron McCoy are recognized at the Veterans Day Brunch.

PTF Director of Programs Hunter I Riley alongside Mississippi State University TMS Mark Edwards, Janice Cunningham, Trish Pohlhaus, Ryan Bear, Samantha Hill and Catherine Turner at Veterans Day Scholarship Dinner.

University of South Florida TMS Josiah Hill, Dave Warden and Grey Leonard are recognized on the field at the USF vs. University of Miami football game.

University of Arizona TMS April Ellsworth, Martin Stahl and Matt Randle are recognized on the field at the Arizona State vs. Arizona football game (standing next to the PT42 gate).

To top off Veterans Day celebrations and events, NFL-Tillman Military Scholar D’Onior Felton will be recognized on the field at the December 11 Washington Redskins game.

Marisela Spangler and sons

Tillman Military Scholar and Texas A&M junior Marisela Spangler took her three sons on a tour describing her experience on 9/11 and why she was compelled to join the Army. The tour took them to the George Bush Presidential Library in College Station to attend a 9/11 ceremony and ended it at home to color paper flags in remembrance of our freedom and of our country’s sacrifice.

Rachel Ericksen, Tillman Military Scholar at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, spent the day volunteering with Civil Air Patrol (CAP) at the Guardians of Freedom Air Show hosted by the Nebraska Air National Guard. Rachel is the Safety Officer for the 155th Composite Squadron.

Rachel Ericksen (R) ande 155th Composite Squadron Cadet Commander Joseph Stellato (L) were at the air show site early to help get everything set up for the Lost Child Program.

Tillman Military Scholar Rich Blake participated in the Baltimore 9/11 Run to Remember 5K and on the opposite coast, Tillman Military Scholar Tara DeBraber ran a 5K in commemoration as well. In Washington, D.C., Tillman Military Scholar Elizabeth O’Herrin passed meals out to the homeless.

Columbia University Tillman Military Scholars Cormick Wong and Rudy Rickner spent their day of service volunteering with The Mission Continues in collaboration with NYCares. The Scholars assembled Go-Bags, emergency kits that will be distributed to NYC residents this month as part of National Preparedness month. After assembling the kits, the Scholars rolled up their sleeves and painted the outside playground area of Nathan Strauss elementary school in lower Manhattan.

To meet the peers of these Tillman Military Scholars and see the impact they are making on this nation, or to read more about the legacy of Pat Tillman, follow the Pat Tillman Foundation on Facebook and Twitter.

Earlier this year, the Pat Tillman Foundation collaborated with The 6th Branch cofounders, Dennis Robinson and myself, both Tillman Military Scholars, to organize and execute a day of service for the 2nd Annual Pat Tillman Legacy Summit. Partnering with Baltimore BORN (Boys Opportunity and Resource Network), a nonprofit started by Baltimore Raven’s cornerback Dominique Foxworth, the day of service quickly became a widespread community effort with One Green Home, the Veteran Artist Program (VAP), The Mission Continues, Baltimore Love Project, Semper Fidelis Health & Wellness and even the Baltimore Ravens’ cheerleaders.

Months of planning culminated on July 11, 2011 when more than 200 volunteers, including 90 Tillman Military Scholars, arrived at the corner of North Bond and East Hoffman in Baltimore City. For four hours, garbage was collected and removed by the truckload, weedeaters were on full throttle, machetes cut through high weeds and fresh mulch was laid down. Meanwhile, VAP, the Baltimore Love Project and the boys from BORN were hard at work finishing an amazing mural at 1516 East Oliver Street that the boys helped design.

When we first started spreading the word in Baltimore that we were thinking about conducting a large community service effort in Oliver, many said we were crazy. “It is a huge liability,” they said. Yet, The Pat Tillman Foundation and The 6th Branch were not deterred. This is why I am so proud to be a Tillman Military Scholar. We do some unconventional things, because we are carrying on the legacy of an unconventional individual.

Building on the momentum from this unprecedented event, The 6th Branch recently launched Operation Oliver, a one-year commitment of service to the Oliver Neighborhood. Several major events are planned, including more large-scale beautification projects and even an Oliver 5K. Additionally, there are ongoing efforts focused on community building and crime watch. The Oliver community is changing, and it all started with a day of service in the spirit of Pat Tillman.

Interested in volunteering? Sign up to support the upcoming Operation Oliver Day of Service on October 1.

As any Tillman Military Scholar can tell you, the transition from servicemember to student isn’t always an easy one. Foregoing the difficult but often constant rigors of military life, not to mention leaving behind close-knit relationships forged through shared hardships in favor of academic pursuits, can leave veterans struggling to cope with their new identities. Feelings of alienation manifest, negatively affecting the veteran’s performance in the classroom.

While those in the veteran community can relate, the sentiment is often lost among college administrations trying to discover the difficulties veterans experience when making the transition from combat to college.

Fortunately, groups across the country are making efforts to increase understanding of the veteran’s campus experience. On Thursday, December 9th, three Tillman Military Scholars participated in such an effort.

Antoinette Bardunias, Elizabeth O’Herrin and Rich Blake traveled from their respective universities along the east coast to Lancaster, Pennsylvania to serve as veteran panelists for the Mid-Atlantic Career Counseling Association (MACCA) “Combat to College” discussion at the group’s 40th Annual Conference. For two hours, the scholars answered questions from an audience of guidance counselors, offering valuable insight into the difficulties they experienced transitioning from the military to college.

“It was extremely rewarding to be a part of the Combat to College panel and see so many wonderfully, compassionate people not only acknowledging the difficulties of veterans returning to school, but making efforts to better their transitions,” said Antoinette. “I hope that future panels will be held and more schools will become involved.”

Elizabeth commented: “Career counselors are in a position to provide a lot of help to veterans both while they are in school, and as they transition from school to civilian jobs. It was great to be able to talk with them about the strengths and experiences of veterans on their campuses. I think the vast majority of campus administrators and faculty have the best interests of veterans at heart, and it was great to be able share my experience with them.”

Rose Howard, the MACCA Vice-President and conference coordinator, was so impressed by the Scholars’ presentation that she’s inviting the them to participate in another panel in March 2011.

“The Combat-to-College Panel at the Mid-Atlantic Career Counselors Association conference was a great opportunity to put the transitioning veterans’ story into the hands of professionals on the frontlines of veteran reintegration,” said Rich. “Understanding how to use the individual military experience to guide the veteran in their pursuit of higher education is crucial to ensure that veterans choose a career track that is aligned with their interests and experiences.”