National veterans honor society inducts first RU members
The Radford University chapter of SALUTE, a national honor society for student veterans and military personnel, has inducted its inaugural class.
Two Marine Corps veterans and one Army veteran made up the first class for the chapter, formed this spring. The 2013 SALUTE honorees at RU are:
- Patrick Dunham, a senior exercise, sport and health education major from Midlothian, who earned Delta tier recognition.
- Roy Pagans, a senior political science major from Radford, who earned Alpha tier recognition.
- James Whorley, a senior computer and geospatial science major from Gardnerville, Nev., who earned Bravo Tier recognition.
Roy Pagans
Members of SALUTE—an acronym for Service, Academics, Leadership, Unity, Tribute, Excellence—are honorably discharged veterans or active-duty military personnel. Pagans earned Alpha tier designation with a GPA of 3.75 or better, Whorley posted a current GPA of 3.5 or better, and Dunham earned a GPA of 3.0 or better..
"When I got out of the Corps, I wasn't sure about my academic abilities," said Pagans, who will wear the SALUTE red, white and blue honor cord as part of his regalia at the RU's commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 10. "But I have been pleasantly surprised, and RU has been very veteran-friendly."
Whorley, who works in RU's Military Resource Center and is incoming president of the Veterans Student Organization (VSO), was instrumental in starting the SALUTE chapter at RU. He said, "I am honored to be among the first to establish a tradition of excellence at RU for my fellow veterans."
SALUTE is the first national honor society established for student veterans and military personnel in two-year and four-year institutions of higher education. RU is one of more than 80 chapters of the organization, which was established in 2009.
Learn more about Radford University at www.radford.edu.