Student veterans share experiences with Lipscomb Academy elementary school students
Mitchell Despot | Lipscomb Academy |
Lipscomb Academy elementary school students recently welcomed some special guests to campus from just down the street when a group of student military veterans from Lipscomb University visited to share their experiences.
The elementary students had a special opportunity to hear first-hand accounts of international service and to learn more about local and global citizenship from Lipscomb’s student veteran.
During a recent Lipscomb Academy Tribal Chapel, an intergenerational experience for the elementary school students and faculty to interact by serving, encouraging and learning from the larger Lipscomb community, 12 veterans representing the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and National Guard visited the elementary school. As part of Tribal Chapel, they shared their experiences in the military and the crucial role that faith played in each of their lives during their years of service.
"The opportunity for our veteran students to share their experiences in the military is valuable and rewarding not only for the Academy students but to the veterans as well," said Chad Staggs, Lipscomb University Director of Veteran Services. "Many of our veteran students have servant hearts and love to tell their story and giving back and being part of the community is a way that enables them to continue to serve."
“Giving back and being part of the community is a way that enables them to continue to serve,” he continued. “The academy and our veterans are a natural collaboration in many ways to educate and enhance our military veterans in the community. Our veterans are proud of their service and any opportunity they have to express their love of country is valuable for not only them but enlightening to those who are able to listen."
Throughout the year, elementary school students have been exposed to not only opportunities to serve in the Nashville community but in the greater global community.
"One of the most important aspects to spiritual formation for younger students is helping them understand their role as global citizens and the needs people face in communities across the world," said Greg Perry, a spiritual formation director at Lipscomb Academy.
Since its inception in 2009, Lipscomb’s veterans services program has served more than 500 students. As of May, the program has graduated 128 veterans. More than 230 veterans are enrolled at Lipscomb this spring semester. Student veterans have performed well academically with 71 percent of currently enrolled student veterans maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA, with 13 percent of those maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. In May, 47 veterans participated in spring commencement. Each of these graduates maintained a 3.4 GPA, for which they inducted into the SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society.
Lipscomb’s veteran program has been recognized nationally for its quality. Military Advanced Education awarded Lipscomb the designation of a “Top Military-Friendly University” in its “2015 Guide to Military-Friendly Colleges & Universities.” Last year marked the sixth consecutive year that Lipscomb University was designated a Military-Friendly School by “GI Jobs,” a publication of Victory Media, for its veteran services program. In 2014, U.S. News also ranked Lipscomb as the second-best regional university in the South for veterans. The College of Business was ranked 24th in the nation in the Military Times’ 2013 Best for Vets: Business Schools 
Guide for veterans based on financial aid, academic policies and participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program.