The University of Texas at Austin is home to hundreds of veterans, and they know the value of hard work, grit and determination in a way only a veteran can. And through your ongoing support, you’re helping ensure student veterans like Rebecca Larson have the financial, academic and health support they need to change the world.

Rebecca recently shared, “I was in the Air Force for six years before coming to UT, where I learned to speak Arabic. This eventually landed me at the National Security Agency (NSA) where I worked as a translator. Now I’ll be graduating this year from UT with my doctorate in astrophysics!

“During my time here, I have had some financial issues, and the Veteran and Military Affiliated Services emergency loans really helped me out, especially during COVID.

“A lot of people don’t realize the GI Bill only covers costs for the semesters you’re in class. So, if you want to do an internship in the summer, it doesn’t apply. This means a lot of student veterans like me struggle to get the real-life experience they need.”

Rebecca also shares about one of the most rewarding experiences she’s had with Veteran and Military Affiliated Services, “One of the biggest things I had the chance to do was change how a large endowment was distributed so that more student veterans could have the chance to do summer internship experiences. Today, that endowment now helps close to 50 student veterans a year!”

Through your support, the Veteran and Military Affiliated Services Office helps those like Rebecca who served our country through financial aid, free tutoring, academic counseling, peer coaching and mentoring, counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, sleep problems and anxiety, and career services as they prepare to graduate.

So, thank you for generously serving UT student veterans. You’re helping them thrive both in and out of the classroom — and change the world.