GovState veteran alum receives President Green Award of Excellence
Jacob Walsh recognized at Student Leadership Award Ceremony
By Sarah Shoaf, Staff Writer
Before Jacob Walsh, a recent Governors State University (GovState) alum and immediate past president of the Student Veterans Association (SVA), only one or two students could attend the National Conference.
Walsh wanted more for the SVA, so he launched a Double Good Fundraising campaign to sell popcorn and raise money to send more students to the conference.
Paige Dulkowski, GovState's Program Administrator of Veteran Services and Retention, was impressed.
“Our fundraiser raised $2,698.50, and we were able to send seven students to our 2024 conference,” said Dulkowski.
Efforts like these were highlighted when Walsh received the President Cheryl Green Award of Excellence for his student leadership. The award recognizes a student club president who embodies the principles of teamwork, collaboration, effectiveness, and support for their club, while making outstanding contributions to their club’s organization management.
As a student, Walsh volunteered countless hours of his time to SVA, leading the club to success not seen before. He tripled membership numbers and elected new officers, who updated GovState’s Chapter’s bylaws, which were enacted in an open forum in fall 2023.
Amongst his responsibilities as SVA President, Walsh planned, organized, and ran monthly events, including educational meetings as well as fun activities, like nature walks and craft nights.
For all his hard work helping others, Walsh was chosen to attend the SVA Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C. in October 2023. During the experience, he honed his leadership skills and core values to better serve the community as SVA President.
“We truly appreciate Jacob's dedication during his time here and will miss his energy around campus,” said Dulkowski.
After graduating in May, Walsh plans to stay connected with his veteran community. He’s also gearing up to continue his education at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where he will pursue his Master’s in Computer and Electrical Engineering.
