Dedicated resources, personal guidance and a shared sense of purpose help illuminate their path to success. That commitment is reflected in national recognition, with �鶹ӳ����ý earning a Silver Award on the 2025-26 Military Friendly Schools List — placing Knight Nation in the top 20% of all participating schools — and ranking among the top five colleges in Florida (No. 51 overall) on Military Times’ 2025 Best for Vets Colleges List.

More than 3,300 student-veterans attend �鶹ӳ����ý, where they’re supported by the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success. This is a dedicated unit that creates an enriching and welcoming environment for military students to achieve educational and career goals through academic success and community partnerships.

Pursuing a degree online is a convenient and affordable path for military and veteran students who balance work and personal responsibilities. As a leader in online education for nearly 30 years, �鶹ӳ����ý is recognized among the best institutions that offer online programs for service members and their families.

�鶹ӳ����ý is also a 2025 Best Military-Friendly Online College, according to OnlineU, an organization that reviews and ranks top online colleges with the best value and return on investment. In January, �鶹ӳ����ý was ranked No. 8 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report. Best Colleges has also ranked �鶹ӳ����ý No. 3 for Best Online Military-Friendly Colleges of 2025.

Opening More Doors for Military and Veteran Students

To enhance support for military and veteran students, �鶹ӳ����ý has formed partnerships to extend academic offerings to this community, including its selection as one of 12 universities nationwide — and the only one in Florida and the southeast — to join the new Service to Service initiative.

The national pilot program is a collaboration between two nonprofit organizations: The Volcker Alliance, which supports public service education, and We the Veterans, which aims to empower service members and their relatives. Service to Service is dedicated to connecting veterans and their families with graduate educational pathways in public service and helping them find impactful long-term careers in public leadership.

At �鶹ӳ����ý, students who join the initiative, known as Service to Service Fellows, can further their education through the university’s graduate programs in public administration, emergency and crisis management, nonprofit management, public policy, and regional and urban planning. Fellows also benefit from mentorship, community building, professional development opportunities and job placement support.

This is just one of many examples of how �鶹ӳ����ý opens doors to new purpose after military service — and part of the reason why Trevor Chandrapaul chose to become a Knight after retiring from the U.S. Navy.

“I always knew I wanted to go back to school,” says Chandrapaul, a third-year student who was drawn to �鶹ӳ����ý for its strong military community and proximity to major defense companies. “I saw how many military veterans actually attended [�鶹ӳ����ý]. I reached out to someone at the Veterans Academic Resource Center, and they took the time to talk to me and offer reassurance.”

Trevor Chandrapaul: From the Engine Room to Emerging Tech

After completing prerequisite courses at Valencia College with plans to become a physical therapist, Chandrapaul took an unexpected five-year detour in the U.S. Navy. As a gas turbine systems technician working in the engine room, he was introduced to systems and engineering fundamentals — a turning point that sparked his interest in computer science.

“[�鶹ӳ����ý] is surrounded by so many defense companies, and I felt like it was a good place for me to continue my studies.”

Although he never intended to build a long-term military career, his service shaped his direction. At 26, Chandrapaul says he was feeling slightly out of place as an older student and transferred to �鶹ӳ����ý.

“Coming from the military, I wanted to continue to serve after my service,” he says. “[�鶹ӳ����ý] is surrounded by so many defense companies, and I felt like it was a good place for me to continue my studies.”

Through [the Military Veteran and Success Center (MVSC), formerly VARC], he quickly found community among other veterans. The initial intimidation of being older than his peers faded as he connected with other student-veterans.

In his first semester, he landed a job at the MVSC and now serves as a program specialist with the Peer Success Coaches. In this role, he helps military-connected students navigate the transition to �鶹ӳ����ý — from connecting them with campus resources to encouraging involvement in student clubs and supporting their academic success.

“Through that job, I was able to help host and participate in so many different events and meet organizations like the Student Veteran Association,” he says.

He’s also strengthening his skills in computer science through Knight Hacks, �鶹ӳ����ý’s largest and only hackathon and software development student organization, while continuing to challenge himself academically. In Spring 2025, he enrolled in Entrepreneurship for Defense — a course he initially picked as a fun elective, but one that quickly became a launchpad.

Assigned to a team developing a maritime awareness system, Chandrapaul worked alongside students from across engineering disciplines. They conducted market research, interviewed high-ranking military officials and industry experts, and presented weekly updates to professors and government sponsors — all of which sharpened his public speaking and technical communication skills.

The experience led to his selection for the Defense Innovation Unit’s summer Maritime Domain Awareness System fellowship.

As a fellow, Chandrapaul is helping improve the safety of maritime environments by developing sensors capable of detecting threats like drug smugglers and illegal fishing activity.

“We recently did a demo on the rooftop of a coastal condo in West Palm Beach, Florida. We got to see a bunch of boats that our radar picked up. We did demos with the U.S. Navy, too. I had the opportunity to visit the Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, which was a base I had pulled into during my time in the service.”

Now, Chandrapaul is focused on solving real-world challenges through technology. With experience in software development, rapid prototyping and mission-driven problem-solving, he aims to work at the intersection of national security and emerging technology.

And he’s not ruling out entrepreneurship.

“Since [taking the Entrepreneurship for Defense] course, we might actually make it into a real business, which now might be in my future plans,” he says. It’s a lot of fun making a project that has a real-world impact. And I have to thank �鶹ӳ����ý for even presenting me with this opportunity.”

�鶹ӳ����ý honored employees for reaching 5, 10, 15, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of service; recognized recent retirees; and presented the Florida TaxWatch Productivity Awards for saving or maximizing tax dollars and promoting innovation. �鶹ӳ����ý also debuted the inaugural Employee Excellence awards, which highlighted A&P, USPS and OPS-non-student employees who made exceptional contributions to the campus community.

“Today we get the opportunity to show you our gratitude and to celebrate the difference you make — every day of the year — at our university, in our community and in the lives of our students and their families,” �鶹ӳ����ý President Alexander N. Cartwright said during the event. “We are so grateful that each of you chooses �鶹ӳ����ý as your professional home, and for the impact you have on our community every day.”

Past Founders’ Day ceremonies celebrated the excellence of �鶹ӳ����ý’s students and faculty. This year, the university included the annual staff employee recognition event — previously known as the Knight Star Awards — to make Founders’ Day a day-long celebration of all who contribute to the institution’s growing excellence. And more than just the employee event offered something new.

For instance, at the afternoon Faculty Honors Celebration, a surprise inaugural Champion of Student Success Award went to Paige Borden ’95MBA ’00EdD, �鶹ӳ����ý’s chief analytics officer. The honor from the Division of Student Success and Well-Being recognizes a person, team, department or college for exemplary support of faculty and university-wide student success initiatives.

Surprises at the employee event included the unveiling of the winners of the Employee Excellence Awards. More than 100 nominees came from members of the President’s Cabinet, the provost’s leadership team and college deans.

The excellence awards recognized honorees in five categories:

Employee Excellence Awards for Community Well-being

• Jurnee Luke, victim specialist, �鶹ӳ����ý Victim Services
• Ryan Iocco, director of Student Care Services, Division of Student Success and Well-Being

Employee Excellence Awards for Student Success

• Vanessa Gonzalez, academic advisor II, Rosen College of Hospitality Management
• Christin Saro, academic advisor III, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Employee Excellence Awards for Service Excellence

• Matt Winstel, lead school certifying official, Department of Military and Veteran Student Success
• Seth Dwyer, library technical supervisor, �鶹ӳ����ý Libraries

Employee Excellence Awards for Discovery and Innovation

• Josh Roney, director of Research Development, Office of Research
• Sandra Hick, chemical safety officer, Office of Environmental Health and Safety

Employee Excellence Awards for Operational Excellence

• Jordan Castillo, payroll specialist III, �鶹ӳ����ý Human Resources
• Seresa Cruz, budget director III, College of Sciences
  

  ---

Additional 2023 employee honorees include:

TaxWatch Productivity Awards

Administration & Finance

• Shelly King, Dale Lance, Saul Santiago and Duane Siemen, Department of Utilities and Engineering Services

Adaptive Planning Phase One Project Team

• • Regino Besana, Varsha Das, John Gyory, Sean Simmons and Elena Wilson

Steven Freund, �鶹ӳ����ý Department of Security

Employee Service Awards

40 Years of Service

• Jim Ennis
• Lee Kirkpatrick

35 Years of Service

• Tamara Jones

30 Years of Service

• Dore Carter
• William Harding
• David Healy
• Stephon Lewis
• Peter Mitchell
• Christine Suleski
• James Wilkening

25 Years of Service

• Seresa Cruz
• Mark Darty
• Melisa Grzanich
• Grissel Guzman-David
• Dawn Herrod
• Tanya Hicks
• Sandra Jaggernauth
• Jacqueline Johnson
• Suzi Katz
• Kate Knowles
• Gloria Martinez Mangual
• Traci Milbuta
• Jesus Munoz
• Ana Petkov
• Juanita Sembrano
• James Smith Jr.
• Derrick Stockdreher
• Samuel Waters
• Eric Wayte
• Valeska Wilson-Cathcart
• Cathy Woolwine

20 Years of Service

• Barbara Antonisen
• Regino Besana
• Karen Black
• Gary Cahen
• Chantel Carter
• Michael Charles
• Youndy Cook
• Mireya Cortes
• Matthew Cronan
• Jose Cruz-Morales
• Page Curry
• Cynthia Dancel
• Son Do
• Karen Du
• Carol Ann Dykes Logue
• Paul Edlen
• Francisco Espaillat
• Delia Garcia
• Nancy Gayton
• Lucia Gorajuria
• Pauline Heinz Strauss
• Felipe Hernandez
• Denise Hiatt
• Karen Hofmann
• Martin Malpica
• David Merrill
• Donald Merritt
• Jorge Milanes
• John Miner
• Christine Mouton
• Dorann Mullins
• Arlene Ollivierre
• Vivian Ortiz
• Cheryl Padgett
• Hetal Patel
• Scottie Pausal
• Richard Payne
• Rosario Pizarro
• Rebecca Pluguez
• James Schaus
• Gladys Serrano
• Kimberly Snoeblen
• Dan Stanchina
• Karen Tinsley-Kim
• Debra Urban
• Rebecca Vilsack
• Vicki Vitale
• Andre Watts
• Terry Wheeler
• Elena Wilson
• Jennifer Wright

15 Years of Service

• Matthew Ahearn
• Josefina Aleman
• Debra Barnes
• Carol Bartley
• Nathalia Bauer
• Lashanda Brown-Neal
• Miriam Cabrera
• Yolanda Carmona
• Laurie Carroll
• Mariana Chao
• Margie Chusmir
• Katherine Compton
• Shameika Daye
• Javier De Jesus Garcia
• Jessica X. Dong
• Millicent Downer
• Jacqueline Dunston
• Alan Elliot
• Kelly Fernandez
• Traci Fisher
• David Gallucci
• Doreen Gomez-Ramos
• Christie Hasegawa
• Ordella Hawkins
• Ana Hernandez
• Maritza Hernandez-Feliciano
• Lynell Hodge
• Christopher Holt
• Andrew Hosler
• Kevin Hurst
• Bunnie Jackson
• Wayne Jackson
• Katie Korkosz
• Jason Kuhns
• Greg Larkin
• Bethany Larson
• Rodrigo Lenartowicz
• Fanny Lopez
• Felipe Mendez Rivera
• Jaime Morales
• Rebecca Morales Magsino
• Angela Moten
• Marcia Munroe
• Molly Myers
• Niranjanaben Nayee
• Angela Neri
• Lisa Newberry
• Eric Nielsen
• Holly Oleske
• Shelly Osborne
• Michael Palmer
• Jenny Pan
• Sheri Pearson
• Geysha Perez
• Alicia Pineiro
• Hector Polit
• Maria Reina
• Karen Reinemund
• Charles Roberts
• Jacqueline Rodriguez
• Jerry Ross
• Eileen Ryan
• Osvel Sarduy Rodriguez
• Tracie Saunders
• Mary Schmidt-Owens
• Steven Sesit
• Misty Shepherd
• Tish Sheppard
• Aaron Spies
• Rachel Straney
• Jorge Talavera
• Carmen Ternette
• Jessica Torres
• Kim Tuorto
• Pamela Turlington
• Luke Van Blaricom
• Maribel Villanueva
• Lady Virviescas
• Larry Walker
• Lauren Waters
• Joel Witherspoon
• Suhtling Wong-Vienneau

10 Years of Service

• Gian-Karlo Alvarez
• Jim Barnes
• Brian Becht
• Philip Bellew
• Susan Bethel
• Erin Blackwell
• Glenda Brown
• Priscilla Camp
• Jenna Capp
• Shafaq Chaudhry
• Robert Ciullo
• Melissa Cowan
• Alex Davila
• Marta De Corral
• Karen Dlhosh
• Philomene Dorlus
• Debbie Doyle
• Seth Dwyer
• Rita Echeverria
• Brian Ecle
• Robert Eller
• Lorie Elrod
• Jennifer Fetterly
• Jeanette Galloway
• Catherine Gholson
• Megan Giddens
• Kendra Gilbertson
• Courtney Gilmartin
• Cissy Glowth
• Cesar Gomez
• Nika Gooding
• Erin Grainger
• John Gyory
• Annie Hackler
• Megan Haught
• Stephania Hayes
• Jonathan Hendricker
• Wdermis Hernandez Saldana
• Michael Herring
• Sandra Hick
• Kristal Holmes
• Tiffany Hughes
• Kate Hurt
• Ashley Ittersagen
• Jasmin Johnson
• Steven Keith
• Sandor Kelly
• Patricia Kentish
• Ariasari Lair
• Albert Lambright
• Shane Land
• Amanda Leite
• Ann Leonard
• Amanda Lindsay
• Stacy Little
• Philip Magyar
• Bill Marani
• Stan Marko
• Chris Martineau
• Scott Mauro
• Errol McIntosh
• Allison McKee
• Shawn McKinney
• Melanie Meisner
• Deidre Miles
• Jennifer Millikan
• Sara Monroe
• Carey Ann Morales
• Sean Mulligan
• Cyndia Muniz
• Elizabeth Nemec
• Douglas Nevel
• Jodie Nichols
• Jamie Owen
• Robinson Pamplona
• Nita Patel
• Ginny Pellam
• Wendy Perez
• Debbie Pope
• Rafael E. M. Pratts
• Kelli Prebyl-Gatzey
• Joey Raditch
• Sandra Rivera
• Ally Rodriguez
• Marcial Romero
• Joshua Roney
• Josefina Rosario
• Mercedes Salcedo-Gonzalez
• Ricardo Scuotto
• Scott Sedlak
• Daniel Sierra
• Andrea Smith-Brown
• Felecia Sookhoo
• Maricel Soto
• Fabiana Staton
• Laura Stephenson
• Brandon Stull
• Ricardo Suarez
• Simone Teel
• Chris Tellez
• Joseph Thalheimer
• Christopher Thompson
• April Torre
• Andres Torres
• Chanda Torres
• Darryl Tucker
• Erin Turner
• Jonathan Villadolid
• Eddie Villarrubia
• Lance Watkins
• Michael Weiss
• Alaina West
• Kyler Wilson
• Robert Wynn
• Ka Yam

5 Years of Service

• April Abreu
• Gordon Adams
• Theresa Alaniz
• Jessica Alves
• Tiffany Ambrose
• Doris Arlotta
• Mikala Armioia
• Shannon Ashworth
• Pamela Barkman
• Maria Barreto
• Bianca Becker
• Gillian Bernal
• Colleen Bickenbach
• Edward Blatzheim, III
• Francesca Botteri
• Courtney Bowles
• Jay Brethouwer
• Catherine Brown
• Eric Bryant
• Bridgett Burk
• Jimmy Burlison
• Nikitta Campbell
• Debbie Capone
• Monique Carter
• Dawn Castro
• Sary Chardon Micheli
• David Claus
• Carmen Colon
• Barbara Dahlstrom
• Carol Davella
• Amanda Dever
• Ryan Dickerson
• Sean Donovan
• Jessica Dorfman
• Paulina Dovali
• Michelle DuCharme
• Rene Dunoyer
• Khue Duong-Rymer
• Raymond Eccleston
• Daniel Eilen
• Suzanne Ekelund
• Bonnie Esparza
• Sarah Evans
• Jennifer Fazal
• Melvin Felton
• Eva Fernandez
• John Flannigan
• Adrienne Frame
• Kyle Fuchs
• Tamiko Fukuda
• Victor Gaytan
• Jamie Giller
• Jose Gomez
• George Gonzalez
• Leticia Gonzalez
• Vanessa Gonzalez
• Ashley Gonzalez Montanez
• Stephanie Gravell
• Andrew Green
• Carla Gripp
• Christina Grosso
• Ashley Guritza
• Efraín Guzman-Carreras
• Billy Hand
• Shannon Harmon
• Christopher Harris
• Lori Heinis
• Kathleen Herring
• Lyndsey Holland
• Randy Huckaba
• Nagy Ibrahim
• Alexia Ikpe
• Luevenia Jackson
• Drexler James
• Wen Jiang
• Kelsie Johnson
• Jonathan Jones
• ToCarra Jordan
• Laurie Kemper
• Joel Kennedy
• Erick Kepfer
• Marsha Kernica
• Diana Kerrison
• Daniel Kidder
• Wayneeta King
• Kerry Knapp
• Elena Kovkin Chidester
• Jasmine Koyapathodi
• Benjamin Kreiter
• Rebecca Kuerbitz
• Avra Kundu
• Thomas Lancione
• Stephanie Layton
• Thierry Lechler
• Tedra Lyte
• Tameria Mace
• Jawahar Madineni
• James Makowski
• Marie Malazarte
• David Maldonado
• Samantha Mason
• Zachary McCarty
• Jayson McCluskey
• Cora McCormack
• Jennifer McKay
• Erika Menna
• Naomi Michelin
• Carlo Milanese
• Grant Mohi
• Brittany Moore
• Darlenny Mora
• Mary Moss
• Christopher Nault
• Diana Negron Reyes
• Douglas Osborne
• Saima Owens
• Kaushal Patel
• Alexandra Patteson
• Margaret Payne
• Monica Pollard
• Garrett Preisser
• Taylor Puentes
• Andrew Quigley
• Amanda Ramos
• Ashli Ransome
• Ian Rea
• Felix Rivera
• Robert Rivera
• Alexandra Rizzo
• Daniel Roberts
• Elfido Rodriguez
• Abigail Ruoss
• Lisa Ruscigno
• Aida Santana
• Johanny Santana
• Maria Saucedo
• Theresa Scipione
• Michael Setzer
• Asha Sharma
• James Shepard
• Marcus Silver
• James Smith
• Kenneth Smith
• John Sparkman
• Cheyenne St. Julian
• David Stoneburner
• Mihaela Tamasan
• Alfonso Tejeira
• Cynthia Teti
• Amber Thorne
• Maya Tolentino
• Katherine Torres
• Thuong Tran-Thuong
• Suzette Turner
• Edwin Vargas
• Hiroko Vargas
• Kate Verret
• Mykhael Walker
• Shirley Wang
• Derek Warden
• Terrell Wells
• Tasha Williams
• Eric Williamson
• Malvin Williams-Tyson
• Michael Wray-Facey

Recognition of Retirees

• Maureen Abou Waked
• Peggy Allen
• Raymond Anadio
• Billy Anderson
• Sherry Andrews
• Evelyne Azer
• Tracy Balkham
• Connie Bristow
• Eulalia Brown
• Richard Caldwell
• Teal Campbell
• Betty Carol
• Ida Cerezo
• Gordon Chavis
• James Clarke
• Laura Cleaver
• Kelly Cody
• Robin Collins
• Donald Colvin
• Eliseo Cromartie
• Pauline Davis
• Anthony Fannin
• Celeste Ferguson
• Anthony Flores
• Arlene Flores
• Alan Frantz
• Edward Freeman
• Sheryl Gamble
• Mike Hakemian
• Julian Hale
• Ronald Hitchcock
• Debbie Holcombe
• Alan Holtz
• Earnestine Jackson
• Margaret Jarrell-Cole
• Eileen Kelly
• Cheryll Kinlaw
• Susan Laden
• Erik Lashinsky
• Gerri Leviston
• Cathy Lewis
• Gregory Lof
• Kim Maclennan
• Duilio Mariola
• Donald Mcelvain
• Vickie McLeod
• Lillian McMahon
• Laura Mendoza
• Douglas Meuser
• Kathy Mitchell
• Christine Mucha
• Dao Nguyen
• Orlando Paniza
• Robert Parker
• Mary Perdomo
• Hector Petrolo
• Patricia Ramsey
• Mildred Rios
• Linda Perez-Rodriguez
• Mark Romans
• Lisa Roney
• Edgar Sanclemente Rodriguez
• Margarita Santiago
• Faith Schafer-Moody
• Jennifer Shambrook
• Sandy Smith
• Sue Sorensen
• Liz Stalvey
• Judith Stout
• Christopher Takach
• Brenda Thompson
• Barbara Thompson
• Joanna Thompson
• Abigail Troche
• Fran Uddo
• Zaida Valentin
• Manuel Velez
• Brad Waldo
• Eric Walton
• Kay West
• Ami Zuclich

The 11-member team will now face other ROTC teams, military academies and NATO allies in the International Sandhurst Competition held at the United States Military Academy West Point.

The Ranger Challenge — a grueling 18-hour, 25-mile competition — included physical exercises, shooting rifles and pistols, an obstacle course, a hand grenade assault course, artillery training, tactical combat casualty care and more. The cadets marched between locations while carrying rucksacks weighing nearly 50 pounds, including 10 miles on a land navigation course. Cadets also had to react to a downed pilot scenario by providing care to simulated casualty and carrying the soldier two miles on a litter.

Lt. Col. Keith Williams, a professor of military science, was proud of his cadets’ teamwork and camaraderie.

“They worked so hard throughout the year, and it definitely paid off,” says Williams. “I have no doubt that the �鶹ӳ����ý Ranger Challenge team will continue to dominate against universities throughout the country.”

The 11 cadets who competed — nine men and two women — were team captain Cameron Geigler, Falencia Aulibrice, Timothy Dziena, Matthew Dunbar, Peter Gaffney, Ashley Garcia, Paul Hayes, Zhiwei Lin, Gavin McMillan, Nicholas Plasse and Joseph Power. The cadets trained for months leading up to the Ranger Challenge, and the team’s success at the Fort Benning competition makes them one of only 16 ROTC programs out of 273 universities in the nation that will compete in West Point, New York.

“Our team has shown hard work, perseverance, sacrifice and most of all training and working toward a goal as a united front,” Cadet Dunbar says. “This team has developed a deep trust and understanding of what it takes to see the mission through. Our group’s determination and personal sacrifice is what ultimately led to our success and soon our victory in New York.”

�鶹ӳ����ý has a long history of supporting both active-duty military personnel and student veterans, as well as partnering with all branches of the military and the defense industry.

The �鶹ӳ����ý campus is home to two ROTC programs that train students to become commissioned officers in the U.S. Armed Forces. Roughly 170 cadets are currently enrolled in the officer commissioning program, led by nine active-duty cadre members. And this year, �鶹ӳ����ý Air Force ROTC Detachment 159 marked 50 years of partnership with �鶹ӳ����ý. An estimated 1,500 �鶹ӳ����ý graduates have become lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force and Space Force through this Air Force-�鶹ӳ����ý program.

The university has been ranked No. 7  for Best Online Bachelor’s Program for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report; one of the Best Colleges for Veterans by College Factual; and “Military Friendly” by Military Friendly Schools.

Since 2011, the  has been serving a growing student veteran population – including roughly 1,400 who are currently enrolled. The resource center offers support and a sense of community to students, faculty and staff veterans on campus. Students use the space for studying and homework, and it’s also where they receive guidance on the use and benefits of the GI Bill.