Daytona Beach Student Veterans Support

Supporting Student Veterans at Daytona Beach

This year, approximately 8-10 student veterans from Daytona Beach plan to attend the Student Veterans of America National Conference alongside fellow student veterans from across the country. These students represent a wide range of academic programs, professional interests, and military experiences, but they share a common goal: building a successful future after graduation.

NatCon offers opportunities to connect with employers, mentors, veteran leaders, and organizations committed to helping veterans succeed in higher education and beyond.

Why Your Support Matters

Student veterans bring unique strengths to our campus community:

• Leadership
• Perseverance
• Teamwork
• Adaptability
• A commitment to service

Supporting their participation in NatCon is an investment in individuals who have already demonstrated extraordinary dedication both in uniform and in the classroom.

Hear from attending student veterans:

"The Student Veterans of America National Conference (NatCon) is more than a gathering of student veterans. It’s where service meets opportunity, leadership is celebrated, and the next generation of veteran leaders comes together to shape the future. For veterans navigating life after the military, NatCon represents a chance to rediscover the camaraderie, purpose, and sense of belonging that made our service so meaningful."

"As a retired U.S. Army veteran, single mother, and full-time college student, I’ve learned that transitioning into civilian life comes with its own battles. Through Student Veterans of America, I’ve found a community that reminds me I’m not facing those challenges alone."

"Attending the SVA Leadership Institute was an incredible experience that connected me with fellow student veteran leaders from across the country. NatCon would give me the opportunity to reunite with my LI fellows, strengthen the bonds we built, and continue growing alongside individuals who inspire me to become a better leader and advocate." - Brittany Manley, Class of 2029

"I’m especially excited about the national awards and recognition opportunities that celebrate the achievements of student veterans and SVA chapters. Being surrounded by veterans who are making a difference would be an incredible reminder that our impact doesn’t end with military service."

"For me, NatCon isn’t just about attending a conference. It’s about bringing back knowledge, resources, and meaningful connections to our Student Veterans Organization at Embry-Riddle, creating opportunities for others, and continuing to build something bigger than myself."

"Attending the Student Veterans’s Association National Conference (NATCON) is an opportunity for people like us to see examples of how the discipline instilled in veterans can benefit them as students, and as they transition into careers. The people that attend this conference are shining examples of the kinds of students and professionals that we all have the potential to be. Besides the obvious, the mentorship is one of the most valuable things I foresee gaining from this experience. I can attribute my success in the Navy, my successful transition out of the Navy, and my current success as a student to the constant presence of good mentors. So, I most look forward to the possibility of finding a new mentor to help usher in a new era of success for me as I transition my mindset here at ERAU from one of a power-plant quality assurance technician, my job in the Navy, to eventually a mindset of a propulsion-focused aerospace engineer."

"As a former cabinet member of my previous college’s SVA, I know what it takes to not only manage a campus’s chapter, but also be an asset to the veteran college experience. Though that is no longer the case here at ERAU, I know that having the skills that we will gain from the many breakout sessions that NATCON hosts would be beneficial, not only as a leader but as a member as well. It will impress upon our leaders knew ideas to further garner success within our chapter, and also instill in our members characteristics that directly, and inadvertently even, support our chapter’s leadership to promote the desire for our student veterans to be successful as individuals as well as a present and active entity on our campus." - Delonte Parker, Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2029

Your Impact

A gift helps ensure that every participating student can focus on the experience, not the cost.

Together, we can help our student veterans leave NatCon with new connections, stronger professional networks, and greater confidence in the future they are building.