Meet David.
A United States Air Force veteran, David Lopez has found a community of support at Shawnee State University to help him transition to civilian life.
“We get the social, academic, physical, and emotional support needed to transition from military to college life,” he said.
A Springfield, Ohio native, David is the President of the Student Veterans of America, an organization dedicated to promoting service and leadership among veteran students on college campuses.
“In my first term as president, I got the amazing opportunity to go to Washington, DC to represent our college and to attend a leadership institute,” he said. “I learned so many skills, like how to build the perfect team and how to be a perfect leader.”
Working closely with the Office of Military & Veteran Services on campus, David and his fellow student veterans have created a Service Corps organization, which is dedicated to volunteering and completing community service in the region. Through these opportunities, David has felt connected to the organization while pursuing his desire to serve the community.
“I’ve learned a lot, most importantly that leaders don’t just lead a group,” he said. “They work alongside people and learn about them so they can lead them in such a way that helps each and every member of the team grow.”
