For the third consecutive year, UofL has been recognized for serving these students by earning the Military Friendly® Gold Designation for 2024-2025. This designation is given to institutions who lead practices, outcomes and programs for military service members. UofL also earned the 2024-2025 Military Friendly® Spouse School designation.

“We are honored by these designations and remain committed to improving how we support this population of students who serve our country,” said Kyle Hurwitz, director of the Center for Military-Connected Students.��

Among the factors that contributed to UofL’s gold status:

• In October 2023, the Center for Military-Connected Students moved into its new home in Brodschi Hall. The renovated, three-story, nearly 5,000 square foot facility quickly become a home away from home for the hundreds of military-connected students who go through its doors each week. Phase two of the renovation was completed in September 2024. This new space in the lower level of the building includes a lounge and game room, a meeting and study room, a Student Veterans of America chapter room, and two additional restrooms.

• The center’s dedicated building has become a benchmark in the state, providing space for the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs to host their spring 2024 student success summit, along with a meeting area for military-related delegations from institutions in California and Ohio. The center also has collaborated with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to bring VA resources and personnel to campus for veteran students.

• In spring 2024, the center certified the enrollment of more than 1,000 students using VA education benefits in a single semester. Additionally, in collaboration with UofL’s Office of the Bursar, the team processed almost 800 military tuition assistance enrollments, up from more than 600 in 2023-2024.

• From a policy advocacy perspective, staff in the center were successful in collaborating with other campus partners to advocate for elimination of the student recreation fee for online students.

• By fall 2024, almost 200 faculty and staff members had completed Red Bird training. This program is designed to help faculty and staff become more knowledgeable about the military-connected student experience. Upon completion of the training, staff are equipped to understand the issues, concerns, unique perspectives, strengths and challenges of military-connected students. These allies become resources for students and other faculty and staff members in their units.��

• Members of the center also have served as panelists on a podcast of the National Association of Student Affairs Professionals and Symposium for Military-Connected Students. Additionally, center staff also led the effort to create the first Atlantic Coast Conference Veteran and Military Support Network. The effort brought together the military-connected and veteran offices/centers from the 18 member institutions, providing a forum to share best-practices in programming, processes and policy. The new group met for the first time in fall 2024 and is planning a conference in 2025.

UofL is one of only 27 Carnegie Designated Tier 1 Research institutions in the nation, and one of only three in the Atlantic Coast Conference to earn a Military Friendly® Gold designation. The almost 2,400 military-connected students enrolled at UofL account for more than 10% of UofL’s total enrollment. In spring 2024, more than 230 military-connected students graduated, representing all 12 UofL colleges and schools.

The Military Friendly® organization awards designations based on public data and proprietary data gathered through an annual data-driven survey process. Institutions are evaluated in six weighted areas: academic policies & compliance; graduation & career outcomes; culture & commitment; military student support & retention; admissions and orientation; and financial aid & loan repayment.

He is also an active duty U.S. Space Force Officer assigned to the 613^th Air Operations Center at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Specifically, he serves as a bounty hunter liaison officer.

Lacourrege, who hails from Ridgeland, Mississippi, originally entered the Air Force in 2016 as a space operations officer. In 2020, he was among the first servicemembers to transition into the new U.S. Space Force. In addition to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, his other assignments include Vandenberg Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, and Peterson Space Force Base.

During his time in the Air Force and the Space Force, he’s attended schools like the Satellite Vehicle Operator Initial Qualification Training, the Advanced Payload Engineering Course, and the Advanced Satellite Communications Planner Course. He’s earned the Air Force Commendation Medal, Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal, Combat Readiness Medal and Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal.

Lacourrege said community environment and welcoming accommodations were factors in him choosing UofL. He also cited ease of access to university amenities, certification programs, and academic tools which make it simple for him to prepare for success in his degree program.

“UofL feels like a family even though I may be a distance student,” he said.��

Lacourrege said CEHD’s Ron Sheffield, his academic adviser, and Nina Marijanovic, coordinator of admissions, as well as Delphi Center’s Veronica Johnson have been extremely helpful during his transition into the M.S. HROD program.­­

Not only does he plan to learn mastery of the subject through his M.S. HROD degree, but he plans to utilize the knowledge and skills he acquires to be able to implement effective leadership qualities in his Space Force career.��

UofL recognizes��Lacourrege in celebration of the second birthday of the U.S. Space Force on December 20, 2021.��

In 2021, the Kickoff Kids for UofL home football games were all children of local military members. They had the important job of retrieving the tee after the game’s opening kick. While the 2021 edition featured Kickoff Kids from U.S. Army families from Fort Knox, next year the program will expand to include children from the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Marine Corps and the Kentucky Air National Guard.

This initiative is part of UofL Athletics’ wider Salute to Service program. The program shows recognition and appreciation to the institution’s more than 1,000 veteran students and approximately 10% percent of staff and faculty who are veterans, as well as to the local military community.

“We are thrilled that so many veterans are fans of the UofL football program. The Salute to Service program is a way to keep our veterans and their families involved in our games and in the community. We owe our veterans a huge debt of gratitude and this is our way of saying thank you,” said Rocco Gasparro, UofL’s associate sports information director, football.��

One of the cornerstones of the Salute to Service programs is UofL Football’s annual open practice event for veteran student, staff and faculty. This group is afforded a behind-the-scenes tour of the football facility, including Lamar Jackson’s Heisman Trophy. The group then attends practice and meets the coaching staff and players. It culminates with attendees being provided tickets for themselves and up to three guests for the military appreciation football game, where the veterans are recognized on-field.

A separate component of the program sees a veteran student, staff, or faculty member identified as the Salute to Service Honoree for home football games. The honoree and guests receive tickets, are invited to the President’s pregame tailgate, and then the honoree is recognized on the field.

The annual military appreciation game is also part of the program, featuring numerous activities and events recognizing and celebrating members of the Armed Forces and veterans. In 2021, the honorary captain for the game was an active-duty U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant who is a UofL Online Student chosen from amongst dozens of nominations. The individual who sounded the team’s train horn was an active-duty U.S. Army Sergeant First Class from Fort Knox. She was nominated by her chain of command for superior performance.

Each year, Athletics distributes several hundred tickets to the veteran students, staff and faculty and the local military community for the military appreciation game. This year’s military appreciation game coincided with the retirement of Lamar Jackson’s number 8 jersey. ��

Expansion of the Salute to Service program to include military children as Kickoff Kids comes on the heels of the football team visiting Fort Knox this past summer. While there, they conducted the Field Leadership Reaction Course, competed against the U.S. Army Recruiting Command’s E-sports team, and signed autographs for the local community.

Salute to Service has also since spread from just the football team to numerous other teams, including men’s and women’s basketball. Both teams host a specific Salute to Service-themed game, and both recognize a veteran student, staff, or faculty member at select home games. The men’s team also hosts an open practice event, where veterans tour the facility, meet players and coaches, and then attend practice. Like football’s event, these attendees are provided tickets to a subsequent game for themselves, and guests and they are recognized on-court.

“We are proud that many veterans choose to make UofL home. The sacrifices they make every day for our country and all of us cannot be overstated, and we are honored by their presence on our campuses,” said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. “The Salute to Service program is one small way we recognize and celebrate our veteran community, and hopefully contribute to our strategic goal of making UofL a great place to work.”

Knuckles, from Atlanta, served in the Marine Corps as a Marine Musician and Small Ensemble Leader from 1995 to 2018. His 23-year career enabled him to see much of the world, including 10 different duty stations, an assignment to Okinawa, Japan, and two deployments to Iraq.

It was while on a recruiting visit to UofL with the U.S. Marine Corps Jazz Orchestra that Knuckles to decide to enroll at UofL’s School of Music after his career in the Marine Corps ended. He is now scheduled to graduate in May 2022.

Knuckles said the faculty and students at UofL have been wonderful to work with, and that UofL has given him an opportunity to decompress from active duty while focusing on what he loves to do.

Chris Fitzgerald, associate professor of Performance Studies, has been his “go-to” faculty member, and calls him a “mentor who has always been a perfect sounding board and friend throughout my experience here at UofL.”

After graduation, Knuckles intends to complete his Master’s in jazz performance in New York and then to go back to Georgia to teach at the college level. He said Fitzgerald’s teaching style and knowledge is what he aspires to emulate when he is a professor.��

The University of Louisville recognizes Knuckles’ service and the 246^th birthday of the United States Marine Corps on Nov. 10.��

Hopper’s nine-year Air Force career reads like an action-adventure movie.

He has deployed twice in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and once in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel and Operation Resolute Support. He also has multiple deployments in the Pacific region, supporting U.S Special Operations Command training exchanges and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff exercises.

While stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Hopper was part of the team who conducted the Thailand Cave Rescue operation, successfully extracting 13 members of the Thai soccer team who had been trapped in the cave complex for 17 days.

During the Trump presidency, he was deployed on a mission detailed to a Counter-Terrorism Crisis Response Force for an operation supporting the Trump/Kim Jong Un summit in Hanoi.

Hopper’s most recent deployment was to Afghanistan in support of Operation Allies Refuge, where he was helping to evacuate U.S. citizens and Afghan nationals. ��

During his Air Force career, Hopper has earned several awards. He was named Air Combat Command’s Pararescue Airman of the Year in 2017 and the Air Force Special Warfare Pararescue Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year in 2019. For his role in the Thai Cave Rescue, he was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

Hopper, a Louisville native, graduated from Trinity High School in 2003. As a long-time Cards fan, he enrolled at UofL as a Business Management major. He even walked on to UofL’s Track and Field team as a pole-vaulter. Hopper attributes his success as a special operator to his then-assistant coach on the Track and Field team, Doug Sharp.��

Unfortunately having to depart before completing his degree, Hopper knew he always wanted to finish his degree with UofL. In 2020, when he heard about UofL’s B.S. OLL program, with its unique aspects for military members and that he could accomplish it fully online, he “knew he found the perfect program to accommodate his frequent moves with the Air Force.”

Hopper acknowledges CEHD staff members Amber Roberts, director of Undergraduate Student Success, and Chelsea Wicks, senior academic counselor, for providing him with support throughout the program.

“Their support will have been a big factor when I graduate with a degree,” he said.��

Hopper plans to use his UofL degree to further his career in the military, or eventually even in his own business.

Hopper who is married with two children, said he can’t wait to get home from Afghanistan to “practice gymnastics and baseball with his kids, and ��to watch Louisville Cardinal Football … Go Cards!”

UofL honors Hopper’s service in the Air Force and is proud to recognize the 74^th birthday of the U.S. Air Force on September 18, 2021.

Story written by Kyle Hurwitz, UofL’s director of Military and Online Initiatives.

Dancy now serves with Lockheed Martin as a Talent Acquisition Sourcing Recruiter, where he assists Lockheed Martin hire Electrical Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Cleared Technicians and Veterans with the Space Military Relations Team.

He started his military career as a field artilleryman, serving at Fort Riley, Kansas, and Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He then transitioned to being an Army Recruiter and served at Recruiting Battalions in Atlanta, Dallas and Oklahoma. Following these tours, he was chosen to be an instructor for recruiters and recruiting station commanders at the U.S. Army Recruiting and Retention College, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Among the many awards Dancy earned during his career was the prestigious Glen E. Morrell Award, the highest recruiting award in the U.S. Army. He is also the recipient of several Meritorious Service Medals, which are presented ��to individuals who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States.

Dancy chose UofL due to its unique partnership with the U.S. Army Recruiting and Retention College. Through this partnership, soldiers and instructors at the U.S. Army Recruiting and Retention College are offered an opportunity to pursue their master’s degree at UofL. The program is designed to help advanced instructors enhance their facilitation skills with adult students. Although the program is offered to every soldier, the U.S. Army Recruiting and Retention College has a screening process designed to identify soldiers most likely to succeed.

Prior to choosing UofL, Dancy had an opportunity to talk with previous students of the program. They all stressed how the faculty made themselves available to students even if the students contacted them late in the evening.��

Although he was a UofL student during the COVID epidemic, Dancy said the Department of ����ֱ��al Leadership was ready to meet the challenges and restrictions of COVID, while ensuring students were challenged. He intends to use the skills acquired in his master’s program to help him grow his second career with Lockheed Martin.

UofL is proud to call Dancy an alum, and also to celebrate the 246th birthday of the United States Army on June 14.��

Story submitted by Kyle Hurwitz, UofL’s director of Military and Online Initiatives.

Charlie Mitchell, a senior communications major from Florence, Kentucky, is one of UofL’s many U.S. Navy veteran students. Mitchell served as a personnel specialist in the Navy from January 2009 to November 2016. That service included three deployments aboard the USS George Washington (CVN73), which brought him to Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Guam, Australia and Malaysia.��

In March 2011 when Japan was hit by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami, Mitchell was deployed to Japan to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts. For his efforts, he received the Humanitarian Service Medal. He would subsequently go on to be awarded three United States Navy Achievement medals while serving at the Navy Operational Support Center, Louisville. In 2016, Mitchell ended his Navy career due to ongoing health issues.��

Mitchell, who grew up in Northern Kentucky, has always thought of UofL as a “great school,” and adds the family he married into are “huge supporters of UofL”. When he separated from the Navy, attending UofL was a natural fit.

Currently, Mitchell is employed at Kenway Distributors in Louisville, a business owned by his wife and father in-law. When he graduates, he plans on using his communications degree to help Kenway Distributors, which has been in business for almost 70 years.

The U.S. Navy traces its roots back to the early days of the American Revolution. On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress established a naval force, hoping that a small fleet of privateers could attack British commerce��and offset British sea power.

Story written by Kyle Hurwitz, director of Military Initiatives and associate director of Online Military Student Programs.��

Now assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve at Fort Knox, Hopkins is starting a new chapter through a cybersecurity program at the University of Louisville College of ����ֱ�� & Human Development that will prepare him for a job in the high-demand information technology career field.

A $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, administered through the Kentucky Commission on Military Affairs (KCMA),��is making it possible for Hopkins and others to pursue cybersecurity education.

The KCMA��received��the funding to develop cybersecurity education��pathways, while continuing��its efforts in workforce development for service members, veterans and spouses.��

Of the funding, $1.2 million��will build��new��pathways leading to cybersecurity certifications and degrees through UofL. The money funds program design and implementation, along with student testing fees.��Called the��, the program is expected to��produce��110��to 190��learners who will qualify��for industry certifications. Some individuals also may choose to pursue a��bachelor’s��or��master’s��degree to enhance their competitiveness in the labor market.��

Hopkins says the program will open up a whole new realm of job possibilities.��“I understand a fair amount about information technology, but I don’t have a formal certification. This will provide that for me,” he said.

The program also offers practical experiences, which may include an��apprenticeship as a form of on-the-job training��and��workplace learning.��With these opportunities,��Kentucky will draw upon experiential learning with defense contractors, primes��and their sub-contractors.

“This grant builds on Kentucky’s goal to become our nation’s most military and veterans’ friendly – and ready – state,” said Governor Andy Beshear. “Team Kentucky’s partnership of state and federal��legislators, state agencies, universities��and defense industry companies��is working to fill��critical skills gaps and ensure military service members,��past��and present, and their families��are gainfully employed.”

“The University of Louisville is proud to take a leading role in training our dedicated service members, veterans and spouses to become cybersecurity professionals” said Neeli Bendapudi, Ph.D., president of the University of Louisville. “I am truly��thankful to��the��U.S. Department of Defense and the Kentucky Commission��on��Military Affairs for their vote of confidence in our��strategic partnership and this most recent example that we are a great place to learn for our��military leaders and their families.”

This grant is phase three of KCMA’s effort to diversify Kentucky’s defense industry sector. The first two phases, carried out between 2015 and 2019, were focused on studies of Kentucky’s defense sector and efforts to expand that industry and its workforce. Among the findings��of the studies, KCMA discovered that��Kentucky’s defense industry has grown from $12 billion to $17 billion from 2015 to 2018. This growth indicates a new demand for cybersecurity talent to support defense manufacturing processes.

The grant funding for all three phases comes from the Department of Defense (DOD) Economic Adjustment Assistance for State Governments Program, which helps communities adjust to local reductions in DOD spending.��

Hailing from Caguas, Puerto Rico, Sannely has been in the Air Force since 2018 and is currently stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Despite her short time in the Air Force, she already boasts an extensive list of accomplishments including honor graduate from Basic Training, promotion to airman Below-the-Zone and promotion to senior airman six months early.

She was also awarded a Diamond Sharp Award, as well as an Achievement Award for her performance during her installation’s COVID-19 response. Sannely says her favorite Air Force memory so far is the day she graduated basic training when she saw her family and was able to “eat candy and fast food after two months.”

When searching for an online Master of Social Work program, Sannely was looking for a program which was flexible about practicum placement for overseas military members. This search led her to UofL and she knew this was the right place for her when she found out UofL offers a reduced tuition rate of $250 per credit hour for Active Duty, Coast Guard and qualifying members of the National Guard and Reserve for undergraduate and most graduate programs.

According to Sannely, UofL was easy to work with and provided excellent support throughout her enrollment process. In particular, Sannely said Connie Uzzell, admissions coordinator in the Kent School of Social Work, was extremely helpful during the admission process.

While she has only recently started coursework, Sannely said she is also impressed by her professors’ and advisors’ flexibility and understanding. She says her classmates seem genuinely motivated to help make the world a little better.

When she completes her Master’s program, Sannely intends to remain in the Air Force and pursue a commission and career as a Clinical Social Worker.

UofL celebrates the 73^rd birthday of the United States Air Force on September 18. The university has a long tradition of supporting the United States Air Force. Between 1947 and today, hundreds of members of the United States Air Force pursued voluntary education and completed degrees at UofL. Since 1949, UofL has been home to a United States Air Force Reserve Officer Training Command Detachment, which has sent hundreds of Second Lieutenants into the Air Force.

Our AFROTC Detachment and United States Army Reserve Officer Training Command Battalion are housed in Dougherty Hall. The hall is named in honor of retired United States Air Force General Russell E. Dougherty, the former commander-in-chief of United States Strategic Air Command and a 1948 University of Louisville Law School graduate.

Story written by Kyle Hurwitz, director of Military Initiatives and associate director of Online Military Student Programs at UofL.��