Connection and Celebration: CMU’s Military Community Reception Marks the Start of the Academic Year

Earlier this month, active duty military and veteran members of the Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) community gathered together at the Military Community Reception. This event, sponsored by the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST), Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion, Center for Technology, Center for Informed Democracy & Social Cybersecurity, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), Veterans Employee Resource Group, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, Tepper School of Business, and the Office of the Registrar, provided an opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and other professionals connected to the military to celebrate the start of the new academic year as a community. 

Keynote speakers for the event included CMU Provost James H. Garrett Jr. and ROTC Company Commander Midshipman First Class Ben Condemi. In his remarks, Garrett highlighted the vitality of the military community at CMU and welcomed the new 2024-2025 cohort of military fellows representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Garrett emphasized the university’s pride in having military students in the classroom and honor in these students’ choosing CMU for their education. This gathering aimed to strengthen connections and build community in order to continue to foster belonging and inclusivity within the military and veteran community at CMU.

In addition to recognizing the unique aspects of the experiences of the university's military community members, the reception also provided the opportunity to celebrate their achievements and contributions, acknowledge the support they have received, and discuss ways to continue to enhance the academic experiences within the CMU community. This meaningful event of community recognition set a positive tone for the 2024-25 academic year, and we look forward to more opportunities for connection and celebration to come.

(Image 1: CMU Provost James H. Garrett Jr speaks at the Military Reception; Image 2, L-R: Provost Jim Garrett, Jr., MIDN 1st Class Ben Condemi, Captain Mike Tomon; Images 3-6: Participants gather together at the Military Reception; Image 7, L-R: SEI Associate Director, Program Development and Transition and Veterans Alliance ERG Harold Ennulat, ROTC and Veterans Affairs Coordinator Mike Danko, Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion Executive Director M. Shernell Smith, Heinz College Associate Director of Student Affairs Annie Julian, Center for Informed Democracy & Social -cybersecurity (IDeaS) center Manager Sienna Watkins, CMIST US Navy USSOCOM Fellow Nick Albarracin, CMIST Deputy Director for Security Policy Studies Ralph López)