Scholar Category: Military Veterans

Ronda Duerson

Major: Neuroscience

Project: For my putska pathway and project I want to volunteer or create a program that helps veterans’ mental health and more recourses for on-campus life that veterans have more access to and are aware of programs that can benefit their overall well-being.

Inspiration: What inspired me to choose this project was because of my dad he served in the military and I was going in and out of the hospitals with him I have seen how much the military impacted his life physically and mentally and the lack of resources he had access to he passed away from cardiac arrest which brings me interest to help others.

Future Plans: I hope to help veterans and hopefully support them with their mental health by creating a program or bringing more awareness to programs that already exist on campus.



Matthew Wilkin

After four years active military, I bring new and different experiences to a college campus. But that background also presents challenges that few can understand. My Puksta Project aims to address the many challenges military people have when returning to civilian life, whether on a college campus or in the general population.