York College of PA student veteran earns national service award

York College of Pennsylvania’s Matt Hanna, a senior Recreation Leadership major from York, has been selected for the 2023 Student Veteran Leadership Award (SVLA), presented by Military Friendly.

The SVLA honors student veterans who are making a positive difference at their school and/or in their communities. The list of recipients is published in the August issue of G.I. Jobs magazine, a print and digital publication distributed free to transitioning service members, veterans, and their families worldwide.

Dr. Robyn Maitoza, Associate Professor of Human Services, nominated Hanna, who was enrolled in a First-Year Seminar (FYS) for student-veterans she teaches. According to Maitoza, Hanna struggled at first with the transition to York College, “but he persevered by reaching out to multiple people across campus and in the community. He started volunteering at Roots for Boots in Hanover. He also ran for Student Senate and won. I believe he is the first nontraditional student at York College to do so.”

Hanna will serve as FYS Fellow in fall 2023 for the course, which is specifically for new, incoming active duty and veteran students. He was previously the representative for military and veterans on the Presidential Search Committee.

Hanna served in the Air Force from 2001 to 2021. Prior to enrolling at York College, he earned credits at Community College of the Air Force at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala., and American Military University in Charles Town, W.V.

“I continue to serve our veteran community for many reasons,” he said in G.I. Jobs. “However, in the end it all boils down to my gratitude and appreciation of the sacrifices our service members and their families make during their military careers in service of our country.”