Student club honors President Reed

Friday, November 14, 2025

photos by Rob Hinkal, social media specialist

Members of the Student Veteran Organization present Penn College President Michael J. Reed with the club’s Veteran Student Success Award. From left: Chet Beaver (assistant director of student advocacy for veteran and military resources), Michael A. Cruz, Keanu Bunting, Reed, Cadence J. Copson, Alex N. Hernandez and Alan D. Dyer.

The Student Veteran Organization surprised Penn College President Michael J. Reed by presenting him with its Veteran Student Success Award on Thursday. The honor recognizes faculty or staff who go above and beyond to support student veterans in achieving their academic goals.

“President Reed was selected for his continued support of veterans throughout his time at Penn College serving as a dean, the provost and now president,” said Chet Beaver, assistant director of student advocacy for veteran and military resources. “As far as I know, this is the only faculty or staff award of its kind at Penn College that was developed, constructed and presented entirely by students.”

Nominees for the Veteran Student Success Award must be a full-time faculty or staff member. Club members nominate deserving individuals during a fall meeting. The award recipient is chosen through a vote by all club members.

The award is a sword, crafted from wood. Each year, students customize the award in the Dr. Welch Workshop: A Makerspace at Penn College.

“The sword symbolizes our connection to the military,” Beaver said. “In military tradition, when senior leaders retire or depart a unit, those who have served with distinction are often presented with a sword in appreciation of their service.”

For two years in a row, Penn College has been ranked No. 1 for veteran students in the Regional Colleges (North) classification by U.S. News & World Report.