In a recent awards ceremony at the National Veterans Resource Center, the Student Veterans Organization (SVO) and the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs awarded several annual recognitions, including the Best for Vets Award, the Community Support Award, the Danny Facto Student Veteran Work-Study Award and the Student Veteran of the Year. The SVO also introduced its new slate of officers to lead the Syracuse University chapter beginning this month.

SVO’s Best for Vets Award was given to Ryan Marquette. Marquette is currently pursuing a J.D. from the College of Law and a master’s of public administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Marquette serves in such leadership positions as the president of Veterans’ Issues, Support Initiative, and Outreach Network and president of the National Security Student Association. Best for Vets Award is presented to the student veteran who has done the most to help student veterans succeed both on and off campus and has gone far above and beyond for his fellow students.

SVO’s Community Support Award went to Daniel Rubio. Rubio has supported new student veterans, as the Team Leader for the Peer Advisors for Veteran Education (PAVE) chapter at Syracuse University. Rubio works on campus with student services in the Schine Student center assisting students, faculty and visitors through all the services available in the newly renovated center. He also serves as the public affairs officer for the SVO.

Laura Buys was named Student Veteran of the Year. Buys is a disability services liaison (DSL) and has helped student veterans with academic support and tutoring, alternative formats for courses, adaptive technology, classroom adjustments such as interpretive services or assisted listening devices, mobility accommodations, and service animal requests.