{"id":70314,"date":"2025-08-18T10:16:58","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T14:16:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=70314"},"modified":"2025-09-01T08:02:46","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T12:02:46","slug":"go-mocs-go-vets-utc-earns-national-honor-for-supporting-military-connected-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/08\/go-mocs-go-vets-utc-earns-national-honor-for-supporting-military-connected-students\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Go Mocs! Go Vets!\u2019 UTC earns national honor for supporting military-connected students"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Associate

UTC Veteran and Military Affairs is led by Associate Director Robert Dorsett and Director Sylvana Matthews. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has been named a Top Yellow Ribbon School by U.S. Veterans Magazine<\/strong><\/a>, earning national recognition for its support of military-connected students.<\/p>\n

The honor puts UTC in select company nationwide. It also puts something else in focus: the people and programs behind that support.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis recognition is significant because it reflects the commitment of not just our office but the entire UTC community,\u201d said Sylvana Matthews, director of the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (VMA). \u201cIt takes a campus-wide effort. Our staff, ambassadors and partners all play a role in creating a strong support network for military-connected students. These honors show that UTC is a place where veterans and their families are truly supported.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matthews, whose father served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, oversees a team serving students with active-duty, National Guard, Reserve, veteran or dependent status.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith 15% to 20% of our student body connected to the military, that presence naturally shapes our campus culture,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

After Matthews arrived at UTC in 2021, she established the Veteran and Military Affairs Student Ambassador Program. An essential component of this initiative is that UTC students play an important role in easing the transition.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmbassadors serve as peer connectors and mentors and are often the first friendly face a new student sees,\u201d she said. \u201cThey help others navigate campus, connect to resources and feel a sense of belonging. Whether it\u2019s a tour, a laptop or a calculator from our Tech for Vets program, they help remove barriers so students can focus on their success.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said the greater impact comes from shared experience and community.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt UTC, everything we do is grounded in community and relationships,\u201d Matthews explained. \u201cMany of our military-connected students naturally become part of a peer support system, and dependents often bring a unique understanding that helps others feel more comfortable and welcomed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat familiarity can break down communication barriers and create a more profound sense of belonging. It\u2019s that shared commitment across the University that allows us to go above and beyond in serving our military-connected community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The

UTC has been named a Top Yellow Ribbon School by U.S. Veterans Magazine<\/p><\/div>\n

Marine Corps veteran Robert Dorsett joined Veteran and Military Affairs as associate director in 2022. Drawing from his own experiences navigating college after service, he brings a personalized mindset to the way UTC supports military-connected students.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach VMA staff member takes a holistic, case-management approach, considering not only students\u2019 educational needs but also their personal and professional goals,\u201d Dorsett said. \u201cWe work closely with each student to establish both short- and long-term goals \u2026 and we regularly review and update these plans throughout the semester to reflect changes in the student\u2019s journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dorsett, who began his academic journey at Estrella Mountain Community College in Arizona, continued his educational studies after arriving in Chattanooga\u2014receiving an MBA in May 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarning my MBA at UTC was more than a professional milestone; it was a personal transformation,\u201d he added. \u201cIt allowed me to take my military foundation and build upon it with knowledge, insight and confidence to lead in a new environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Student

Durand Henderson<\/p><\/div>\n

Student veteran Durand Henderson enrolled at UTC in 2022 and quickly became part of the VMA\u2019s ambassador program. A U.S. Air Force veteran majoring in business administration with a concentration in economics, he\u2019s on track to graduate in December.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Veteran and Military Affairs office serves as a \u2018clubhouse\u2019 where we can come together and support each other, much like we did during our time in the service,\u201d Henderson said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about academic or financial support; it\u2019s about the camaraderie \u2026 the fellowship we share in this community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Henderson\u2019s time at UTC has become a shared family experience. His wife, who is a Navy veteran, is starting her UTC journey this fall.<\/p>\n

The VMA office, he said, \u201chas been helping her understand which benefits are available to her, how to use them and\u2014most importantly\u2014making sure she feels comfortable and welcomed during this transition.\u201d<\/p>\n

UTC awards academic credit for military experience and helps students understand how military transcripts are reviewed and applied. The VMA office also connects students with on- and off-campus partners, from Financial Aid to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.<\/p>\n

Collaborations with Career Connections and the American Job Center help military-connected students move toward internships, job placements and long-term goals. Those types of partnerships are essential, Matthews explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking ahead, one of our biggest goals is to deepen the connection between our campus and the broader Chattanooga community,\u201d she said. \u201cIn veteran and military programming, it truly takes a village. That spirit of collaboration\u2014bringing community resources to campus and inviting campus partners to engage more intentionally with military-connected students\u2014is where we see real impact.\u201d<\/p>\n

At UTC, that impact has a rallying cry.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe proudly live by the motto \u2018Go Mocs! Go Vets!\u2019\u201d Matthews said. \u201cIt was already here when I arrived about four years ago, but I loved it immediately. It captures both the school spirit and the pride our veterans feel in being part of something bigger. It shows up in everything we do\u2014from daily programming to tailgates and campus events.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s simple, but it reflects our mission perfectly: We\u2019re all Mocs, and we\u2019re all in this together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/h4>\n

Visit UTC<\/a><\/p>\n

Veteran and\u00a0Military\u00a0Affairs<\/a><\/p>\n

How to apply<\/a><\/p>\n