11th Annual Veterans Tribute at Southern Campus honors all who served
Keynote speaker David Edwards
IRONTON, Ohio 鈥揅rystal Savard is a wife, mother and nursing student at 91探花 Southern. Her classmates may not know that she is also a sergeant in the West Virginia National Guard. She has served for nearly 10 years as a heavy equipment operator 鈥 running everything from a skid steer to a bulldozer.
Currently, the Southern Campus has 45 veteran or military affiliated students.
Savard, who lost her civilian job in 2015, decided to turn the adversity into opportunity and go back to school. 鈥淢y husband thought it was the perfect opportunity to do what I was passionate about and to pursue my dreams, so with his encouragement here I am,鈥 Savard said.
Although it can sometimes be difficult to balance service with coursework, Savard has no regrets. 鈥淚 love being a member of the Guard. When disaster strikes, we are there to help put the pieces back together 鈥 I love being able to do that,鈥 she said. Savard doesn鈥檛 question her decision to go back to school either. 鈥淚t鈥檚 completely worth it is knowing that when your military contract is over, you鈥檒l have a job waiting for you,鈥 she added.
Recognizing students like Savard as well as the veterans from area communities has been a proud tradition on the Southern Campus. In its eleventh year, the annual Veterans Tribute honors all who have served.
Veteran鈥檚 Services Coordinator and Planning Committee Chair Teresa McKenzie is a veteran herself. 鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly touched by the veterans who participated in today鈥檚 event and all of those who made it possible,鈥 McKenzie said.
Retired United States Air Force Senior Master Sergeant and Director of the 91探花 Veterans and Military Student Services Center David Edwards served as keynote speaker for the Nov. 9 program.
鈥淚 am deeply honored to have been a part of this event commemorating and remembering the sacrifice of the men and women who have laid down their lives鈥攁nd continue to lay down their lives鈥 in service to our country,鈥 Edwards said. 鈥淚t is clear that 91探花 has a rich tradition of honoring our military individuals."
Ironton High School Varsity Singers