SVA Recognizes VFW Staffers for Student-Veteran Work

During last week’s Student Veterans of America national conference in Orlando, SVA Executive Director Michael Dakduk took a moment to recognize the contributions of two VFW staff members who have given back to the student-veterans’ community over the last few years.

VFW Deputy Membership Director Dan Parker was recognized for his contributions to SVA dating back to his time as an undergraduate student at the University of Kansas, where he helped to commission his campus’ resources for student-veterans. Parker went on to serve as an SVA regional director before joining the VFW National Headquarters staff in Kansas City, where he continues to develop innovative ways for VFW to engage student-veterans and foster leadership on college campuses around the country. Earlier in the week, Parker participated in a panel discussion on transitioning from combat to college and into a career.

VFW Deputy Legislative Director Ryan Gallucci was recognized for his contributions to legislative advocacy on Capitol Hill alongside SVA. Dakduk said that Gallucci and fellow VFW staff member Daniel Elkins helped lay the groundwork for meaningful consumer information and consumer protection reforms that were recently signed into law by President Obama. Earlier in the week, Gallucci participated in a roundtable discussion on student-veterans’ policy initiatives.

Both Parker and Gallucci are Iraq veterans who returned from war to college campuses that seemed unprepared to meet the needs of a growing student-veterans’ community.

Parker, who has attended every SVA conference over the years, said he was inspired to see how the organization had grown and how new leaders consistently emerged within the student-veteran community.

Gallucci, who was a first-time conference attendee, said he longed for an SVA-like entity on his campus when he returned to the University of Rhode Island in 2004 after serving in Iraq, and that he was honored to be able to play a role in ensuring student-veterans have the resources they need to succeed in college.

Next: New student-veterans join the ranks of the VFW

(Images: Top: VFW Deputy Legislative Director Dan Parker accepts his award from SVA Executive Director Mike Dakduk. Bottom: Dakduk presents VFW Deputy Legislative Director Ryan Gallucci with his award. Photos courtesy of Mike Figlioli.)