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JU SVA chapter nets $1,500 grant, named national Chapter of the Month!

Jacksonville University’s Student Veterans of America chapter has received a $1,500 grant from the national SVA organization and is being recognized for its efforts as National SVA Chapter of the Month.

The chapter presented a business plan and grant application for future growth needs, and was selected for the funding.

JU's SVA Chapter is National Chapter of the Month for November

“Typically chapters receive a few hundred dollars, but our chapter received $1,500 due to the hard work and perseverance that our chapter has displayed,” said JU student and SVA Chapter President Danielle D’Amato.

In his letter congratulating the chapter, SVA National Executive Director D. Wayne Robinson praised the JU group’s “commitment and ingenuity.”

“We applaud your success,” he wrote. “On behalf of the SVA team, we thank you for your dedication to student veterans and wish you the best success on campus. You, as local leaders, are the true pulse of Student Veterans of America. “

As National SVA Chapter of the Month, the JU organization is highlighted on the SVA homepage (http://www.studentveterans.org), and is the subject of an article about its success (http://studentveterans.tumblr.com/post/68981782734/chapter-of-the-month-jacksonville-university-on), noting its recent popular “Show Your Colors 5K Run” to honor those who served, as well as the new “Defenders Den” SVA Student Center open on campus for veterans.

The article states that JU’s large veteran population is poised to make a difference in the community.

“The Jacksonville University Chapter is an example of the impact that a group of students can have on their campus!” the article states. “This student veteran community located on a small school in Florida aims to effect big change in the time to come.”

Here is an excerpt from the article:

After members of the chapter attended the 2013 National Conference in Orlando, the group began to grow and make great strides to help their student veterans. In order to attend, the members of this chapter received funds from the Mayor of Jacksonville, Alvin Brown. After the gesture, Brown said “the funds were more than a donation; this is about our city’s future. It’s about refining leadership skills and grooming potential into reality.” The chapter returned from Orlando with the motivation and guidance from fellow chapters fresh in their mind and went to work.

The activities of the JU Chapter motivated Jacksonville University President Tim Cost and prompted him to recognize the unique student veteran population on campus. He hosted a “Thank You” dinner for the veterans who chose to make JU their home as they pursued education. Cost later announced that the student veterans of JU will get a “V” on their school ID cards that will help make items at the campus bookstore more affordable. During graduation, JU will also recognize the veterans with veteran recognition stoles and red, white and blue honor cords.

For more about the JU SVA chapter, visit http://www.ju.edu/VA/Pages/About-Us.aspx. For more about JU’s programs and services for student veterans, visit http://www.ju.edu/VA and http://www.ju.edu/registrar/Pages/VA-Information.aspx.