Mobile, Ala. – Veterans Day is a day set aside to honor the men and women, who have served in all branches of the military. The day is a time to celebrate service members who have shown tremendous amounts of patriotism, love, and sacrifice by fighting for our freedom. The day is recognized as November 11 because on that same day in 1918, World War I ended.
According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, WWI officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919 in Versailles, France. A cease fire between the Allied nations and Germany was in effect seven months prior to the date of signing the treaty. That cease fire went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, making November 11, 1918 the day regarded as the end of the war.
Spring Hill College has several current students and faculty members, who have served our country in the armed forces. The college is dedicated to helping veterans’ pursue and accomplish their educational goals. Jazsmin Rankin is an U.S. Navy veteran, who served active duty for 13 years. Rankin is a sophomore nursing major and expresses her appreciation for the support she has received from those on The Hill.
“The financial aid office has been such a help with addressing my concerns regarding my veteran benefits enough for me to be able to focus on classes. I am a member of the Black Student Union and the Student Nurses Association. I’ve always known that I wanted to be a nurse to care for others in their time of need. My family at the time didn’t have the finances for college, so I joined the military instead. I worked in the medical field while simultaneously taking prerequisite courses to apply the professional component for a bachelor’s degree in nursing through Spring Hill,” said Rankin.
Junior criminology major, Garrett Baldwin, has been serving in the Army National Guard for the last three years. Baldwin said the military has taught him the importance of having discipline, a good work ethic, and effective time management skills. Possessing these essential qualities have propelled him to excel on campus as he works as a Senior Residential Advisor with Residence Life, being a part of the Track and Field team, and a member of Lambda Chi Alpha. As he currently serves in the National Guard, he also has family who are service members as well so Veterans Day is special for him.
“I come from a military family, so I’ve always wanted to be in the military in some capacity. I also wanted to be part of something bigger than myself and give back to this country. Veterans Day for me is a reminder of all those who came before me to serve this country and is a reminder of why I am currently serving. Veterans Day is important to observe because it reminds the American people of those who have sacrificed everything for the freedom we have today,” said Baldwin.
Stacy Clements, an Assistant Professor in the Division of Nursing at SHC, retired from army active-duty after serving 28 years as an Army Nurse Corps Officer. Clements said her time in the military nourished her spirit of service and motivated her to want to pass on her knowledge to another generation of nurses. She started teaching at the college in July of 2021 and said she is incredibly grateful to be a part of the Spring Hill College family.
“The college supports and makes room for my community outreach efforts. It provides many opportunities for students and faculty to engage in outreach efforts within our local area. Here, I have a platform that encourages prayer in the classroom as we foster leaders dedicated to learning, faith, justice, and service. I can share experiences that will help prepare our nursing students for future challenges, guided by the Jesuit value of cura personalis – caring for the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. As a veteran, I feel truly humbled and thankful for the kindness, guidance, and support I receive from my division and the entire Spring Hill College community,” said Clements.
Tyloria Crenshaw, who is Director of Alumni, Parent and Community Relations and a 1985 graduate of Spring Hill, said her experience in the U.S. Army really shaped her into who she is today. Crenshaw worked in the Signal Corps., which is the communication branch of the army, as a Communications Electronics Officer. She served eight years in the reserve and those years changed her life. She believes careers in the military are rich in opportunity and personal development. She hopes more people consider careers in the military.
“I would encourage them to do it. It’s a great life. You have access to education, career choices, and you can travel all over the world. You will have access to some incredible experiences that will take you far beyond your military service. Those skills will translate into your civilian life after you leave the service. But it’s not easy, it comes with challenges. It builds character and will shape and mold you. It’s not for the weak! But if you are up to the challenge, the rewards are life-changing. Whenever I see someone in uniform, I’m eternally grateful. It’s like that saying goes, “real heroes don’t wear capes – they wear dog tags,” said Crenshaw.
Spring Hill works diligently to aid all service members graduate and become successful professionals in a mirage of fields. Spring Hill College is forever grateful to all veterans for their service and dedication to our country. When the opportunity presents itself, we encourage you to personally thank a veteran because if it was not for their service, we would not be able to enjoy the privileges we do today.
ABOUT SPRING HILL COLLEGE:
Founded in 1830, Spring Hill College is the oldest Catholic college in the Southeast and the third oldest Jesuit college in the United States. Spring Hill combines the Jesuit tradition of excellence in education and a commitment to caring for the whole person — mind, body and spirit — with innovative educational experiences. Located in Mobile, Ala., Spring Hill’s mission is to form leaders engaged in learning, faith, justice, and service for life. As a result, Spring Hill students are engaged, inspired and transformed by their experiences.