In honor of Veteran’s Day, the College of Health and Human Development is sharing the stories of its students and alumni who balanced military service while earning their degrees, and how the experience has impacted their lives.
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Taylor Sapp served as infantry mortar section leader in Afghanistan from October 2014 to July 2015, where he advised and assisted with Afghan counterparts with a primary mission to disrupt enemy movements and forces. That experience impacted Sapp in many ways, including giving him a new outlook on the value of life. Now a student at Penn State studying communication sciences and disorders, Sapp is using his experience as an opportunity to connect and support other students who are military veterans. “I want to help veterans who are in similar situation, who are transitioning into the academic world and are eager to get along with other students with different experiences,” Sapp said. “I try to tell them to be patient during this transition,” Sapp said.
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While transitioning from active military to Penn State, Shana Bogert took advantage of many resources for veterans, including the Office of Student Aid, Office of Veterans Programs, Department of Kinesiology, and Athletic Training Program, all of which she said “were all crucial to my early success at Penn State.”Bogert, a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, received her military honor cord from Penn State President Eric Barron during a ceremony in May 2018. Bogert, who received a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training, is now enrolled in a sports psychology master’s program at Lock Haven University and holds a graduate assistant position with Bellefonte Area High School. After completion, she hopes to become an athletic trainer.
