Clark State Community College will hold an induction ceremony for the United States military active-duty, retirees, reservists and veteran students who met qualifications for the SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society. The 12 students to be inducted this year are the third and largest group of Clark State students bestowed with this honor, and all have attained a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
“Clark State strives to be as military-friendly as possible,” said Dr. Jo Alice Blondin, president of Clark State. “One small way that we reach out to our veteran and active military students is by honoring them through SALUTE.”
SALUTE – Service, Academics, Leadership, Unity, Tribute, Excellence – is the only national honor society recognizing and honoring the service and scholastic achievements of student veterans. The SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society is made possible by an ACE/Wal-Mart Foundation Success for Veterans Grant and is headquartered out of Colorado State University.
The students inducted into SALUTE represent all branches of American military and veterans in higher education at two- and four-year institutions. Members include retirees, disabled veterans, active duty military, National Guard and reservists returning to higher education, starting second careers or helping fund their college careers with military service.
“Three of this year’s inductees will be graduating in May along with three previously inducted members of the Clark State SALUTE Chapter,” said Dana Kapp, veterans services and records specialist at Clark State. “Graduating SALUTE members, will wear the SALUTE graduation stole along with military honor cords which are given to all graduating students who served or are still serving in the United States military.”
Clark State was designated as a Military Advanced Education and Transition (MAE&T) Top School in 2018. The MAE&T Guide to Colleges and Universities measures best practices in military and veteran education. The College was also named one of the Nation’s Top Military Friendly Schools in 2019.
Clark State provides tuition discounts to active military personnel and their spouses, as well as veterans.
In 2015 Clark State was the first college in Ohio designated as a Purple Heart Campus and was approved by the Community College of the Air Force as a General Education Mobile (GEM) partner. The College also features a Veterans Lounge that provides student veterans with a place to unwind, study, hold meetings or network.
The SALUTE ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 30 in the Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center, 275 South Limestone Street, Springfield, Ohio.
2019 SALUTE Class of Inductees
Beavercreek
Lindy Jo Shumaker - U.S. Army Veteran
Dayton
Arielle Pinckney - U.S. Air Force Veteran
Huber Heights
Sentemus Moss - U.S. Army Veteran
London
Angela LaRosa - U.S. Army Veteran
Springboro
Clifford Hatch - U.S. Air Force Active-Duty
Springfield
Robyn Crossley - U.S. Army Veteran
Jared Shafer - U.S. Army - Veteran
John Sheppard - U.S. Army Veteran
Tipp City
Charlotte Grumbles - U.S. Air Force Active-Duty
West Jefferson
Matthew Malcuit – U.S. Army Veteran
Xenia
Bailee Young - U.S. Navy Veteran
Yellow Springs
John Schlabach - U.S. Army National Guard Member