Event to honor student veteran graduates
Mr. Ted Higgs retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army and is an Adjunct Instructor of English and Latin at Maryville College. He also formerly served as the director of MC’s Military Student Center.
As we have done in past years, the college will be recognizing graduating student veterans and military dependents in a special cording and coining ceremony that will take place on Friday, May 18, at 4:30 p.m., in the House in the Woods.
The veteran honor cords salute those veterans who have accepted the challenge of entering the world of academics after their time in the uniformed services and are completing the requirements for graduation. At Maryville College, we are fortunate to have had members of all of the branches of the military as students. Their times in service range from four or five years, to as many as thirty. This year these red, white and blue cords will be awarded by Dr. Barbara Wells, Vice President and Dean of the College.
At the same ceremony, we will also be awarding Maryville College challenge coins to these veterans and military dependents graduating with the class of 2018.
The tradition of the military challenge coin dates back to World War II, but its history goes back to earlier conflicts. The modern challenge coin is a symbol of esprit de corps and camaraderie and is a recognition that the bearer is, was, or forever will remain a member of that team. In our case, the team is Maryville College.
As I wrote this piece, I reached into my desk for the coin I received when my battalion, part of the 101st Airborne Division, was returning from Vietnam. It isn’t quite as fancy as our MC challenge coin, but I don’t think I would trade it for any amount.
This year our college challenge coins will be awarded to graduating student veterans and military dependents by Arthur Hafner, a 1972 graduate of Maryville College and a distinguished veteran of 30 years of military service.
This is an open invitation to the Maryville College community. As the date draws closer, you will see further announcements of this event. Please consider joining us in recognizing these graduating veterans and dependents.