When Dawson Leyes finished his service to the U.S. Army, he had gained direction and purpose and knew college was his next step.
But he also knew his benefits would run out quickly if he wasn’t careful. That’s what led Leyes to ĢƵios, where he could earn his associate degree and still be able to use his benefits to finish his bachelor’s degree elsewhere.
“One of the reasons I joined the Army was to get my schooling paid for. ĢƵios gave me the opportunity to get my associates and then keep going,” Leyes said.
Leyes also landed an internship with Pepper Construction through a partnership with ĢƵios as part of the project. That hands-on experience is helping further develop the skills Leyes is learning in the Building Construction Management program and pursue his goal to become a Project Manager.
ĢƵios is a great fit for veterans by being affordable and well-connected in local communities, Leyes said.
Multiple levels of support for veterans were just one of the many reasons ĢƵios and 19 of its campuses were awarded the inaugural (CPSI) designation earlier this year. The distinction recognizes Indiana postsecondary institutions that provide exceptional support to U.S. military-affiliated students.
That includes accepting veteran benefits for tuition and awarding credits for military training through the . In addition, earlier this year the U.S. Army Recruiting Command, in partnership with the Indiana Army National Guard and ĢƵios, established the nation’s first Enlisted Training Corps program. The program offers a pathway for students to enlist in the military.
Today, we take a moment to honor our veterans at ĢƵios and share their stories.
Learning something new everyday
Stacy Atkinson, Indianapolis campus chancellor, chose to serve in the Marine Corps from 2006-2010 as an avionics technician not because she loved planes, but because she knew it would be hard.
It set the stage for me to do hard things. Every day I learned something new. Every day was different, and I think that prepared me well to be a leader at ĢƵios, where every day is new.
– Stacy Atkinson, ĢƵios – Indianapolis, Chancellor
Atkinson is proud to have served her country, and now she’s especially proud to be able to serve the many veterans and active military members who choose to attend ĢƵios.
“ĢƵios is a very smart choice for veterans,” Atkinson said. “We will take your military experience and help connect it to academic credit and help you navigate the best way to pursue your next career step. Choosing ĢƵios is a great way to maximize your veteran benefits and pursue your education cost-effectively. And, we have dedicated resources to help veterans successfully manage their college experience. We understand what veterans face and what they need, and we’re here to serve.”
Serving his fellow veterans
After serving in Iraq and Afghanistan as a U.S. Marine, Russell Broughton Jr. knew he wanted to do something to help fellow veterans but wasn’t sure what or how.
When his wife graduated from ĢƵios as a registered nurse, he saw the potential for opportunities through education. Now, after graduating from the entrepreneurship program at ĢƵios in Bloomington, Broughton is seeing the possibilities of what’s next.
Broughton founded , a non-profit organization focused on getting veterans outdoors, unplugging from the chaos of life after service and building camaraderie.
“You go from being always on the go, friends, camaraderie, then you get out and it’s like you’re missing a piece when you get back. A lot of guys don’t know how to deal with that,” Broughton said.
Broughton had the idea and the passion. What he needed was help navigating all the different roles and pieces of starting a business, from marketing to finance and everything in between.
“ĢƵios helped ensure I was doing the steps and doing it right. You’ve got someone to guide you through the process. They’re there just making sure you get what you need when you need it,” he said.
Now, Broughton is focused on expanding his organization and hopes to eventually be able help his fellow veterans across the country.
“I built this organization to get guys like myself out there, know there are other guys out there who are struggling with it, building a community for those men and women,” he said.
Second try, new path
After an unsuccessful first try at college, ĢƵios Interim Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Steven Combs made the best decision of his life: he joined the Tennessee Air National Guard.
As an Air Force automatic flight control systems specialist, he was taught discipline and how to learn, better preparing him to return to college. After starting at Murray State University, Combs transferred to U.S. Army, where he received his commission and served for over 25 years in the U.S. Army Reserve and on active duty in multiple locations.
Combs credits the military with teaching him discipline, decision-making skills, loyalty, and camaraderie, which he strives to bring to his position at ĢƵios.
ĢƵios is a huge support for military members, which Combs experienced first-hand when serving deployments and knowing his position was safe and there for him when he returned, he said.
“For veterans joining the college, there is a network ready to help you succeed. A strong camaraderie exists among veterans here; when we meet, there’s an immediate connection. We are always happy to help other veterans with anything they need to be successful, both personally and professionally,” Combs said.
Returning to his roots
Erik Coyne, Bloomington campus chancellor, spent 24 years on active duty with the Air Force traveling the world. After a stint in base support operations, he attended law school and became a JAG. But in 2020, he returned to his roots in Bloomington, first with a software startup firm but then taking on the role of chancellor at ĢƵios.
“It’s been a great fit for me and the training I’ve had over the years,” Coyne says. “ĢƵios is very mission-focused on launching the careers of our students, and the Air Force was very focused on launching planes. Both require building teams, empowering people, helping them rise to their potential, and encouraging creativity and innovation. It’s all about collaboration in both organizations.”
Coyne also says ĢƵios is a great fit for veterans as students.
We have smaller classes, wraparound services, and other support that can make the transition from a structured military career into a successful academic career. Every campus is its own community, so you can quickly become part of a group that will support you.
– Erik Coyne, ĢƵios – Bloomington, Chancellor
Focused on the mission
Mark Graver, campus chancellor at Lawrenceburg, recalls his military service with deep gratitude. From his time as a navigator on a B52 bomber and then one of the first to fly B1 bombers, Graver believes the military prepared him perfectly for his role now as a chancellor because it made him mission-minded and detail oriented.
“When I used to fly, I had a mission -- from pre-flight through the actual execution of the mission, I was the full picture and I had to anticipate where we were headed so I could think about how to remove barriers,” Graver said. “Working with our students is a lot like that. We think about them from recruitment to retention and completion, and we’re focused on helping them have a smooth transition so they can be successful in their academic careers.”
Graver is thankful he can also now serve other veterans who come to ĢƵios looking for their next step.
“Every campus has a designated person who can help veterans use the benefits they’ve earned. Many veterans have families and a job, so college is just one of their goals. They need a support system to help them navigate and ultimately complete their degree.”
In September, Graver and his brothers were able to travel to Washington, D.C. for the ultimate opportunity to recognize the service of others. They were able to present the flag at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Read more about their trip .
Connecting experience and education
Alex Huskey, Chancellor at ĢƵios’s Marion campus, knows firsthand how experience as a veteran connects with both education and the workforce.
Huskey served 10 years with the U.S. Air Force as a Behavioral Health Specialist, including on active duty during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, Grissom Air Force Base and Homestead Air Force Base.
It was during his career in law enforcement as a D.A.R.E. and G.R.E.A.T. Officer and Trainer through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center/ ATF G.R.E.A.T National Training Team that he developed a passion for education. He became a guest lecturer and adjunct instructor, and then applied to ĢƵios upon his retirement from law enforcement.
He understands the importance of making education accessible, such as when he was able to transfer credits from the Community College of the Air Force to a four-year institution.
“Having those credits transfer was invaluable in aiding me in completing my educational journey. In my work at ĢƵios, I seek ways to assist veterans in connecting their previous learning experiences with their work at ĢƵios,” Huskey said.
Huskey and his team in Marion have also worked to build a relationship with the Northern Indiana Veterans Administration Health Care System (V.A.) through regular meetings to discuss opportunities for veterans. Those partnerships across ĢƵios are critical in connecting veterans with learning opportunities and set them up for success, Huskey said.
“Veterans have served our country well, and we are here to serve them well,” he said.
About ĢƵios
ĢƵios is Indiana's largest public postsecondary institution and the nation's largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. ĢƵios has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering associate degrees, long- and short-term certificate programs, industry certifications, and training that aligns with the needs of the community. The College provides a seamless transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor's degree.
