Veteran and Military Resource Center hires Purple Heart recipient as first intern through SUNY program
(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – AUGUST 20, 2024) Empire State University’s Veteran and Military Resource Center (VMRC) is proud to announce Adam Woodcock has been selected as the 2024-25 intern through a new internship program through the State University of New York, which grants an opportunity for veteran students to engage directly and support military-affiliated students on campus.
Woodcock is working towards a bachelor’s degree in business management and economics. He served in the United States Army Infantry from 2003 to 2009 and deployed twice to Iraq. During that time, Woodcock served as a team member in the infantry platoon, member of a line company sniper team, and as a team leader of a line company sniper team. Woodcock is a recipient of the Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman’s Badge.
Woodcock will focus on first term engagement of SUNY Empire’s military-affiliated students with a specific emphasis on connecting new students to university and community resources. Woodcock recently re-established the SUNY Empire Veterans and Military Club, a chapter of the larger Student Veterans of America, where he serves as President.
Adam Woodcock, intern and student at Empire State University, said“In this capacity, I am honored to be able to help other military-affiliated students accomplish their goals and dreams; it’s one thing I can do to honor the fallen, and show my appreciation for every veteran, their service, and their sacrifice. By making connections with each other, those of us that have gone through the process of transitioning into higher education or simply into civilian life, can guide those following in our footsteps and hopefully make the process easier for them,” Woodcock said. “Whether it is knowing what office to contact to solve a problem, knowing certain services or resources available, or answering the phone in the middle of the night because someone needs to talk, we can all make a difference. We owe it to the men and women that paid the ultimate sacrifice to be the best person that we can be.”
The program, offered at 23 SUNY institutions, is part of an initiative by SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. with a specific focus on the recruitment and support of veteran students through the Office of Enrollment Management and veteran offices at select SUNY campuses.
State University of New York Chancellor John B. King, said “Our military-connected students are to be commended for their leadership, their strength, and dedication to their country. Veterans bring to our SUNY campuses unique and diverse life experiences that enrich our campus communities. We are proud to support Veterans Enrollment and Support Interns who can help their campuses to enhance their support for military-connected families and attract more students to earn their college degrees.”
Desiree Drindak, director of the Veteran and Military Resource Center, said “This internship is a fantastic opportunity for Adam to support other student veterans as they begin their academic journey at Empire State University. Connecting our military-affiliated students to college resources and also to the abundance of community resources available will hopefully help ease the transition during their first term at the university and beyond. We appreciate and value SUNY’s support of our veteran students.”
Empire State University serves over 1,000 military-affiliated students, the most of any SUNY institution, according to data from the most recently completed academic year. You can learn more about the Veteran and Military Resource Center on Empire State University’s website.