Glasgow, Kentucky, native Christian Loos graduated from the University of Louisville in May 2022 as a Distinguished Military Graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Learning degree. He was commissioned into the Adjutant General Corps and is preparing to head to the Adjutant General Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

During his time at UofL, Loos was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and was a routine volunteer in the UofL and Fort Knox communities. He was recognized along with a fellow U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps cadet after they provided first response and aid to victims in a multiple vehicle collision during their morning commute to campus. Another special memory from his time at UofL was being chosen as one of three individuals to represent the U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps during a special campus-wide commemoration of the 20^th anniversary of 9/11. Christian said his favorite UofL moment was being recognized as Salute to Service honoree on-field at a football game with his wife and children.

Prior to commissioning, Loos was an active-duty Sergeant First Class. He earned his degree and commission via U.S. Army Cadet Command’s Green-to-Gold program, in which eligible active-duty enlisted soldiers earn a baccalaureate degree or a two-year graduate degree and earn a commission as an Army officer.

Loos served as a Cavalry Scout at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Camp Casey, Republic of Korea, and Fort Lewis, Washington. He also temporarily served as an Army Recruiter at the U.S. Army’s only Special Categories Recruiting Station. While stationed in the Republic of Korea, Christian served on a forward station in close vicinity to the Demilitarized Zone and assisted in the demobilization of the 7th Cavalry regiment.

Christian served in multiple positions of leadership, including Platoon Sergeant, and was a distinguished Honor Graduate from multiple levels of Army Non-Commissioned Officer professional development. His favorite Army experiences were “training and mentoring soldiers” when operating as the Senior Scout and Vehicle Commander within a Stryker Platoon out of Fort Lewis, Washington.

Among the many awards Loos earned during his enlisted career were the prestigious title of Excellence in Armor. He also earned multiple Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medals, and Army Good Conduct Medals, as well as the Korean Defense Service Medal; the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal; the Recruiter Gold Badge and the Drivers Badge.

Loos said he chose to pursue his degree at UofL to enable his family to be close to extended family for a while. He intends to use the skills and experience he gained in his degree program to help build effective teams during his Army career. He has plans to pursue a master’s degree.

ÌęChristian lauded the support provided to military-connected students at UofL, especially the support provided from Kristen Roy and Carissa Gentry in the Office of Military and Veteran Student Services, as well as his “outstanding academic adviser” from the College of łÉÈËֱȄ and Human Development, Chelsea Wicks. He also cited two dedicated faculty from the Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Learning program, Roger Buskill, and Kristie Ennis, and the outstanding cadre of the U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps unit, particularly Captain Dakota Walker.

Ìę

Simmons-Chukalas was soon promoted from a car rental associate position to lead agent, eventually working in the corporate office. Her various roles led her across the country, where she directed training departments and airport operations in San Francisco, Atlanta and New Jersey. She stayed with the car rental company for nearly 29 years and made a name for herself in the industry.

Eventually,ÌęSimmons-Chukalas left the car rental company for a role as vice president of learning and development at a company in Colorado.Ìę

Though her professional career had taken off, not finishing her college degree remained a regret. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, however, her position was eliminated andÌęSimmons-Chukalas had the chance to rethink her course.Ìę

“I think it was the perfect storm for me and I knew that the writing was on the wall 
 that it was time for me to go back to school. So I made the commitment that I was going to go back and finish. I just jumped into, once again, the deep end. I like to do that,” she said.

She searched for the best program to fit her needs and landed at UofL. Intentional and ambitious as ever, she had to get the Dean’s approval to take on the heavy course load needed to finish her B.S. in Organizational Leadership and Learning (OLL) in 1.5 years, which she did completely online. She’s graduating May 14 with a 4.0 GPA.Ìę

“I wanted a program that was catered to adult learners. I knew that I wanted to get credit also for my life experience. So, I actually interviewed schools, just like I would if I was going to find a vendor to partner with in a corporate role,” said Simmons-Chukalas, “I spoke toÌę(a faculty member)Ìęabout UofL and he did a great job promoting the program and talking about the benefits of it. I really valued and appreciated that UofL is different in the sense that you can earn credits for work-life experience through your PLA (Prior Learning Assessment) and, at the same time, you don’t have to pay for those credits that you’re earning.”

The OLL department at UofL offers innovative programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. These programs educate professionals who focus on leadership, organization development, human resources, and workforce development in order to benefit individuals, organizations and society.Ìę

Simmons-Chukalas expressed that her courses were extremely validating and affirmed the work that she’s been doing for so long. Obtaining a degree from UofL will provide the credibility and additional industry recognition needed as she continues to move forward in her career. It’s also setting a great example for her two kidsÌę– her biggest motivation.

With her degree finally in hand, Simmons-Chukalas recently started her own consulting business and is working for a company where she builds programs to help underrepresented individuals grow professionally through mentorship and career development. Her long-term goal is to become a Chief Learning and Talent Officer.

“I love doing executive development programs, but I’m also very passionate about helping people who are underrepresented. So whether that’s people of color or women or the LGBTQ community 
 whomever that might be,” she said. “Those are big passions for me. I’m someone who came from very humble beginnings. I want to always be able to lift up and give a hand back to someone else going through that same experience because being successful in your career gives you the means to be able to provide for your family, and that’s probably the most rewarding thing that I’ve been able to do.”

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. Ìę

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.Ìę

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.Ìę

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 Ìęto 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.

She started attending classes at the University of Louisville in the fall of 2009. A number of obstacles forced her to stop and resume her education twice more over an eight-year span.

Though she could’ve thrown in the towel, already holding a full-time job and no immediate incentive to get her diploma, she went seeking advice on a way to return to college. A conversation and unique program at UofL opened the door for Ballard.

“I found out about the Fresh Start Program in spring of 2016 after talking with one of my advisers,” Ballard said. “The Fresh Start Program gave me the opportunity to start over with my GPA.

“Prior to taking the Fresh Start Program, I was on academic probation and had struggled to do well in my classes. I struggled for a number of reasons, I didn’t have a reliable way to school, I worked third shift and I lacked motivation because I didn’t know what I wanted to do as a career. Ultimately, I felt lost.”

Students are eligible for only one Academic Fresh Start, but as part of the program, they can resume their academic careers and request a reset of their cumulative grade-point average. The program has no impact on earned hours.

Ballard restarted her coursework in the fall of 2016, focusing on a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and learning. At times, Ballard, who took advantage of the university’s online learning option, admitted having doubts about completing her degree with the demands of being a full-time employee and a full-time student.

“My best friend of 22 years, Heather Luckett, and my fiancĂ©, Jacob Settle, always encouraged me to keep pursing my dream,” Ballard said. “When I felt like giving up, they both stepped in to give me pep talks and remind me why getting my degree was so important to me. Without their support, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Every milestone, they have been there cheering me on; I couldn’t ask for a better support system.”

On May 11, Ballard was a walking example of success. The Louisville, Kentucky, native strolled across the stage at the KFC Yum! Center, receiving her diploma Summa Cum Laude with a 3.9 GPA.

“Getting my degree was always something I had strived for. To me it was a sense of accomplishment,” Ballard said. “I wanted to make everyone in my family proud and have a positive influence on my younger siblings. To me, getting my degree meant more opportunities and success.”

Ballard has dreams of opening more doors. Currently a strategic sourcing specialist at a custom trailer manufacturer, she aspires to further her education, potentially at Louisville.

“Next, I plan on using my degree to obtain a management position within my company,” Ballard said. “In the future I hope to go back to the University of Louisville for my MBA.”

He dropped out of college just one semester shy of getting his diploma and didn’t resume his academic journey until 2016. That’s when he began the CEHD’s , a program that helps ROTC instructors earn or finish a degree. He completed the course in May, and now has a UofL bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and learning.

Kazukietas lives in Locke, New York. He is a veteran, a sergeant first class Army officer and a military science instructor for Cornell University’s ROTC program.

He plans to soon add another credential to his resume: a master’s degree in Human Development from Cornell.

CEHD professor Jeffrey Sun, who in 2015, said Kazukietas’ experience exemplifies how the program can be a game-changer for military and academic professionals.

“Do you ever think about how you take a complex problem, translate it into accessible soundbites, and help the learners translate that knowledge into other settings?ÌęThat’s what we do in this program. For many, the program offers an entirely new approach to problem solving, leadership and teaching,” said Sun. “It helps soldiers, like Kaz, hone their teaching and mentoring skills by using evidence-based research. In the end, it’s all about helping the Army overhaul the ROTC program so they can provide the very best education to tomorrow’s military leaders and soldiers.”

Kazukietas said the CFDC inspired him to take his studies to the next level. That’s why he applied for the master’s program at Cornell.

“After studying human development theories (at UofL) over the summer of 2016, I was shocked at how we think development is this intuitive thing that just happens. You start to realize that it is the seat of a host of problems small and large that range from students feeling like they don’t matter to overt racial conflict,” Kazukietas said. “It opened my eyes to how complex relationships, environments and life experiences can affect the development of a human being.”

A roundabout journey

Kazukietas’ first foray into college was at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. He left RPI in 2001 and enlisted in the Army as an infantryman.

“I had always maintained an interest in military service and my disillusionment with the academic world at that time created the perfect scenario, in my head, to join.ÌęI thought that I would only do one enlistment but I found out that I really enjoyed the camaraderie, the dirt and, to an extent, the adrenaline,” he said.

As he considered his next career move, Kazukietas began investigating ROTC teaching positions. A colleague told him that he knew about an open job at a university but no one wanted to go there.

“When I asked why, he said ‘because it’s cold and snows a lot.’ÌęI love snow and the cold so I asked him what school it was and he said ‘Cornell.’Ìę I said ‘Cornell, like the Ivy League Cornell? I’ll take it,’” said Kazukietas.

Sun said that as he got to know “Kaz,” it was obvious that he had the heart of an academic.

“Last year, it was difficult for me to get to know our 366 CFDC students but Kaz stood out,” Sun said. “We had discussions that clearly signaled to me that he was a graduate student quality. He just needed an opportunity and UofL gave that to him.”

The program, offered by the College of łÉÈËֱȄ and Human Development, lets students with at least 2,000 hours’ experience in healthcare and 24 transferable college credit hours work toward a Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership and learning. It’s an example ofÌę“competency-based education,” a teaching model recognizing the value of lessons learned outside the classroom through employment, military service or other training. Depending on their proficiency, students can earn up to 48 credit hours for their on-the-job learning.

Classes are offered online as a set of 36 modules weighted at one credit hour each, with the option to test out of a module if the student has already masteredÌęthat topic. Students can complete the program in as little as three intensive semesters, or work through it at a slower pace more convenient to them. A Healthcare Leadership Success Coach is also available to provide students with focused academic counseling throughout their time in the program.

“The primary value for students interested in this program is that they will earn a bachelors degree from a nationally-recognized university in a time-efficient and cost-effective manner through a self-paced online curriculum developed to meet healthcare industry standards for leadership development,” said program director Lee Bewley.

The program, accredited at the same level as UofL’s traditional courses, can prepare students for careers in healthcare administration and management. Applications for enrollment are being accepted now, and the first class will begin in the Fall semester with new classes starting the first Tuesday of every month except December.

Bewley said the program is expecting to matriculate about 20 students in its first year, eventually expanding to reach hundreds of students across the country.

Healthcare Leadership is UofL’s first competency-based educationÌęoffering through the new OnTrack Program and more degree programs are expected soon. More information is .Ìę