November 18, 2024
“It was just phenomenal, just a great time all around.”
David Lopez, a sophomore at Shawnee State and President of the SSU Student Veterans of America (SVA) Chapter, was accepted and attended a highly coveted experience during the SVA Leadership Institute in October at the nation’s capital.
Originally, Lopez wasn’t going to apply for it, but the Springfield, Ohio native was introduced to the prestigious event by his SVA Vice-President. Lopez was approached by his VP, Luke McGlone, who told him he should apply.
Lopez completed the application and just two days later received confirmation that he had been selected.
“I stood there for like five minutes, with my hands on my head,” Lopez said. “I couldn’t believe it”
The 2024 SVA Leadership Institute is a three-day event that brings veterans and leaders from around the country together in Washington, D.C. to speak, network, and be involved in more social events.
Lopez expected a busy schedule during his time there. He expected to speak in front of Congress on matters of education for veterans, get to network with some of the best leaders in the nation, like the CEO of the Student Veterans of America, and see the museums and monuments in D.C.
Lopez was in Washington October 17-20. While there, his trip took an unexpected turn that no one could have ever predicted.
An unexpected schedule change at a security checkpoint prevented Lopez and three other participants from speaking to Congress, but with the newly freed-up time, the group decided to see some of Washington’s famous museums and headed to the National Museum of Art as their first stop. “We got to see beautiful art from many people, including some from Van Gogh and Picasso,” Lopez said.
Lopez used his connections with another veteran to meet up with someone to receive memorabilia. The contact led the group of four vets to visit the Library of Congress. With the group intrigued, their guide took them up the elevator and through a couple secure doors.
The group found themselves inside the dome at the Library of Congress, with a view of all of everything around.
“It’s just a beautiful view of all of Washington D.C.,” Lopez said. “You can see it all, from the Pentagon to the White House.”
The opportunity to go into the dome is so rare that some of the people who work in the Library of Congress can’t even get access to that area, he noted.
Additionally, on the way down from the dome, the group saw signatures on the wall from other visitors. They asked the person showing them around if they could sign it and he said yes.
“My name is now signed on the dome of the Library of Congress,” he said. “That’ll be there forever.”
Lopez said that his overall experience at the event was wonderful. Aside from not being able to speak about some issues he wanted to bring up, everything went well for him.
“The leadership there was like no other,” he said of the institute, pointing out that lessons that they don’t even teach at the highest levels were taught to the prestigious group. “Even military schools that teach you about leadership, they said in these three days those leadership schools never did or could do. (Participants) said that this was the best they’ve ever been taught in terms of leadership.”
Of the 400,000-plus people in SVA that applied to be a part of the leadership institute, only 80 were selected. Lopez described it as a blessing.
And to be a part of the four who got to see the view from the Library of Congress dome was amazing, he added.
For more information about services for student veterans at SSU, visit shawnee.edu/veterans.