By Katherine Tam
SAN FRANCISCO — A group that helps student veterans adjust to campus life and two graduate students who helped develop a universitywide student health insurance plan have won this year's President's Award for Outstanding Student Leadership.
The UC Santa Barbara Student Veterans Organization won accolades at today's (May 17) Board of Regents meeting for being a strong advocate for student veterans and providing valuable resources to vets as they acclimate to life on campus.
Jason Tien, a doctoral candidate in neuroscience at UCSF, and Alberto Ortega Hinojosa, a doctoral candidate in public health at UC Berkeley, also were honored for helping develop a student health insurance plan that is both comprehensive and affordable.
"Jason, Alberto and the SVO epitomize the best qualities of the University of California," UC President Mark Yudof said. "And we are grateful, very grateful, to them for embodying our university's broad service mission in their work."
Launched last year, the President's Award honors groups or individuals who find creative solutions to systemwide issues and advance UC's core mission of public service. The SVO will receive a $2,500 award, and Tien and Hinojosa will receive $1,000 each. The trio also will receive engraved plaques.
Transitioning from military to civilian life
The UCSB Student Veterans Organization is a model, both for UC and for higher education as a whole, Yudof said.
In addition to pushing tirelessly for educational benefits at the local, state and national level, the group strives to improve the image of returning veterans.
It has organized a number of helpful programs including scholarships, the "Ask A Vet" forum, a "Boots to Books" webinar that talks about how veterans' skills, experiences and perspectives can strengthen a campus community, and a free Central Coast Student Veterans Conference that brought together people from campuses around the region. Beyond the campus setting, its members mentor at-risk youth, volunteer with veterans groups of past wars and read Dr. Seuss's favorites to elementary school children.
“At a time when our country remains engaged in two wars, the SVO serves as a crucial advocate and resource both for our UCSB student veterans, and for other programs across the UC that endeavor to support veterans in integrating themselves on UC campuses and successfully completing their studies,” Yudof said.
Boris Palencia, SVO president in 2010-11, and Raymond Morua, who will lead the organization in 2011-12, accepted the award.
“This award wouldn’t be possible without our members, the student veterans. They’re incredible individuals,” Morua said. “I look forward to continuing to accomplish things.”
The SVO's resources have become an example beyond UC. Morua is helping craft student veterans programs at local community colleges.
Student leaders pave way for better insurance benefits
With health care costs on the rise, UC this fall will roll out a systemwide Student Health Insurance Plan that provides comprehensive and affordable health insurance to students.
As student representatives on the work group that developed the insurance plan, Tien and Hinojosa provided key feedback and guidance that helped UC broaden student insurance benefits, including offering dependent coverage, while holding down premium costs. The benefits also are being extended to undergraduate students.
The plan allows UC to support its students while attracting new ones.
"Jason and Alberto have brought great energy and ingenuity to this project, and have worked tirelessly for more than two years to represent their fellow students from across the system," Yudof said. "Their success demonstrates the vital importance of student involvement and leadership in university initiatives."
Katherine Tam is a communications coordinator with the UC Office of the President. For more news, visit the UC Newsroom or follow us on Twitter.