Roanoke College has been named a Military Friendly® School through G.I. Jobs magazine and Viqtory publishing, according to a recent news release. Roanoke College has said it “is committed to being a place for veterans, their dependents, and future military leaders to find home for their education.”
Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and survey responses.
Roanoke College is home to an active Student Veterans Group that fosters an environment of support and lasting friendships through regular meetings, group dinners, family barbecues and occasional trips. At the college’s commencement ceremony, group membership is noted with a special stole and a group patch.
Roanoke’s admissions and financial aid offices work closely with veterans to help coordinate GI Bill educational benefits and the Yellow Ribbon Program. Roanoke College has said it is strengthening its commitment to veterans with a new staff position to assist veterans in their transition to college and to help support them throughout their educational experience.
Damon S. Daniels ‘24, a recent Roanoke graduate, was appointed as Roanoke’s first military support and recruitment coordinator. Daniels is an Army veteran who served our country for almost 20 years in Afghanistan and Iraq. He recently graduated as a health and physical education major. While at Roanoke, he served as the president of the Student Veterans Group, which he helped to create and today serves as advisor of the group. The Student Veterans Group was recognized as an outstanding student organization in the 2024 Garren Diversity Awards. Daniels said he could not have graduated without the care and encouragement from Roanoke faculty and staff. He also credits his success to his wife, who provided a much-needed boost for him to finish what he started.
“Damon Daniels is a veteran, a family man and the very first in his family to obtain a college degree. He is the epitome of tenacity and resilience,” Roanoke College President Frank Shushok Jr. said. “I’m excited to see what our veterans can accomplish and pleased to have Damon on board to support our veterans from day one.”
For more about Roanoke College and educational opportunities for veterans, visit roanoke.edu/veterans.
The 2024-25 Military Friendly® Schools list was published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs and is available at militaryfriendly.com.
For more information about Roanoke’s student veteran programs, visit the Veterans page on the Roanoke website. https://www.roanoke.edu/admissions/veterans.
-The Salem Times-Register
