Chancellor Kent Syverud | Syracuse University
Chancellor Kent Syverud | Syracuse University
Members of Syracuse University’s military-connected community gathered for the 2024 SVO Ball & Awards Banquet, which featured a Gatsby-themed evening and a celebration of achievements within the veteran community. SVO President John Nipper ’23, G’24, expressed his pride in the graduating military-connected students, stating, “Congratulations on all your successes here at Syracuse University, you should be proud of all your accomplishments and to now be recognized as an alumni of these hallowed halls. We know that you will do great things in your future endeavors.”
The event also featured guest speaker Theodore “Ted” Walker, a U.S. Army veteran and assistant professor, who emphasized the importance of community for veterans. The evening included a formal dinner, awards presentation, and the announcement of the next year’s SVO executive board.
Among the awards presented, Jose A. Baeza-Ruiz ’25 received the SVO Community Service Award, Raul “Rudy” Rosique ’23 was honored with the SVO Best for Vets award, and retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth Kubala received the SVO Faculty Appreciation Award. Kubala expressed her gratitude, stating, “I’m truly humbled and honored to be recognized by the SVO for this award.”
The Office of Veteran and Military Affairs also presented awards, including the Danny Facto Student Veteran Work Study Award to Andrew Patterson and the OVMA Student Veteran of the Year Award to Raul Rosique ’24.
The evening concluded with the announcement of the SVO’s Executive Board for the upcoming academic year, with Raphael Grollmus elected as President. Grollmus, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, expressed his commitment to the SVO community, saying, “If there is something the veteran community as a whole could benefit from or an event that would be excited to do, let us know so we can put it into action.”
The SVO Ball & Awards Banquet brought together the Syracuse University military-connected community for a night of celebration and camaraderie, setting the stage for continued support and engagement in the coming year.
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