Clemson held its annual Service Member and Veteran Graduate Celebration on Tuesday, May 5 in the Almeda Jacks Ballrooms of Hendrix Student Center. Undergraduate and graduate students were recognized for their service to the United States military and for preparing to graduate from Clemson in Spring and Summer Commencement ceremonies. Honorees were presented red, white and blue cords to wear atop their graduation regalia.
“Our military-connected students are a tremendous benefit to Clemson,” says Vice President for Student Affairs Doug Hallenbeck. “While we celebrate our graduates and the hard work they’ve put in over several years to get to this point, we know they would not be here without a strong support network around them. We are so thankful for the families, friends and loved ones who have wrapped their arms around these students and encouraged them along the way. It’s a big deal to graduate from Clemson University.”
The Office of Military & Veteran Engagement (M&VE) led a program that included keynote remarks from Nicholas Rader Ph.D. ’23, a lecturer in professional communication and information design. Rader is a veteran of the United States Navy who served from 2005-09 and deployed during both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He earned his Ph.D. in rhetorics, communication and information design from Clemson.
“You are absolutely crushing it in the game of life,” says Rader, who spoke for about 10 minutes directly to graduates. “A college degree gives you meta-skills, and it makes you so valuable to industry and society. Your network puts you in one of the top percentiles competitively, simply by earning your Clemson degree.”
Outstanding Student Veteran Award
The Spring 2026 Outstanding Student Veteran Award is presented to one veteran who embodies the values of service, scholarship and selfless leadership. Jacob Babayan, who was lost tragically this past year, earned the honor posthumously. He was a member of the Student Veterans Association and student assistant with M&VE during the Fall 2025 semester. His mother, Adriana, accepted the award in his memory, and grandmother Maria Reyna, was also in attendance.
Military Student Leadership Awards
M&VE awarded three students with Spring 2026 Military Leadership Awards, which provides $500 to each recipient for building community to overcome challenges that veterans and military-connected students face: Andrea Cerda, Colleen Flood and Chris Sasnett.
Veteran Impact Award
Each semester, M&VE honors a member of the Clemson University community who has made a positive impact on the military student experience. Joy McJunkin received the Spring 2026 Veteran Impact Award. She serves as Clemson’s VA educational benefits coordinator and lead certifying official in the Office of Records and Registration. She oversees the review and submission of nearly 4,800 certifications annually, securing more than $15 million in VA benefits.
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Master’s Graduates
David Barnett
• Computer science
• Native of Greenville, South Carolina served six years in the United States Air Force
• Past secretary of the Student Veterans Association and member of SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society
Chase Carter ‘24
• Master of business administration (MBA)
• Earned bachelor’s degree in financial management from Clemson
• Native of Independence, Kansas served five years in the United States Marine Corps
• Past president of the Student Veterans Association and member of SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society
• Recipient of the Fall 2023 Outstanding Student Veteran Award
• Past recipient of the “Keeping the Tradition Alive” Award from Clemson Corps
Scott Cunningham
• Counselor education
• Native of Sacramento, California served four years in the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of sergeant
• Served on three deployments
Devon Downes
• Economics
• Native of Front Royal, Virginia served four years in the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of sergeant
• Served on a deployment to Okinawa, Japan
Jack Feffer
• Real estate development
• Native of Caledonia, Wisconsin served four years in the United States Air Force
Sidney Flores
• Master of business administration (MBA)
• Native of West Covina, California currently serving in the United States Space Force as a first lieutenant
Rich Kyzer
• Human resource development
• Native of Central, South Carolina served 33 years in the United States Army, achieving the rank of sergeant major
• Works as a talent acquisition partner in Clemson’s Office of Human Resources
• Wife, Amanda, serves as program coordinator in Clemson’s Office of Military and Veteran Engagement
Siris Liptak
• Economic analytics
• Native of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina currently serves in the South Carolina Army National Guard as a sergeant
• Member of SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society
• Recipient of the Fall 2025 Outstanding Student Veteran Award
Matthew Lostaglia
• Applied psychology
• Native of Omaha, Nebraska served 12 years in the United States Army, achieving the rank of sergeant first class
Chris Rohlev
• Structural engineering
• Native of Los Alamos, New Mexico served four years in the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of captain
• Served on a deployment to Okinawa, Japan
Bachelor’s Graduates
Jake Barron
• Management
• Native of Bedford, Pennsylvania served five years in the United States Navy
• Served on deployments to the Persian Gulf and South China Sea
Ricardo Becerra-Pena
• Accounting
• Native of Greenville, South Carolina served four years in the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of sergeant
• Served on a deployment to Okinawa, Japan
Samuel Blankenship
• Electrical engineering
• Native of Richmond, Virginia currently serves in the South Carolina National Guard
• Past commander of Clemson’s Company C-4 of the Pershing Rifles
• Member of SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society
• Past recipient of the “Keeping the Tradition Alive” Award from Clemson Corps
Ryan Boyd
• Mechanical engineering
• Native of Trenton, New Jersey served 20 years in the United States Air Force, achieving the rank of master sergeant
• Served on deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan
Nick Buchanan
• Mechanical engineering
• Native of Rock Hill, South Carolina served eight years in the United States Navy
Anthoney Cook
• Chemical engineering
• Native of Charleston, South Carolina served five years in the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of sergeant
Seth Crawford
• Mechanical engineering
• Native of Florence, South Carolina currently serves in the United States Navy
Daniel Greco
• Horticulture
• Native of Bealeton, Virginia served four years in the United States Army
• Past vice president of the Student Veterans Association and member of the SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society
• Past recipient of the “Keeping the Tradition Alive” Award from Clemson Corps
Kaitlin Harris
• Management
• Native of Cheraw, South Carolina served five years in the United States Navy
• Past treasurer of the Student Veterans Association
• Recipient of this year’s “Keeping the Tradition Alive” Award from Clemson Corps
Alexandra Katramados
• Management
• Native of Belle Mead, New Jersey currently serves in the South Carolina Army National Guard
• Member of SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society
Cierra Knight
• Biomedical engineering
• Native of North Augusta, South Carolina currently serves in the South Carolina Army National Guard
Jack Laraia
• Economics
• Native of Aurora, Illinois served four years in the United States Army, achieving the rank of sergeant
• Served on a deployment to Afghanistan
Jason LeMay
• Sociology
• Native of Black Mountain, North Carolina served 10 years in the United States Navy
• Served on a deployment to Afghanistan
• Member of Student Veterans Association and student assistant coach with Clemson Football
Joshua Markem
• Criminal justice
• Native of Easley, South Carolina served six years in the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of sergeant
• Member of SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society
Israel Merchan
• Political science
• Native of Bronx, New York served eight years in the United States Navy
• Served on a deployment to the South China Sea
Hunter Morey
• Sociology
• Native of Anderson, South Carolina served six years in the United States Army
JT Spitzmiller
• Secondary education
• Native of Easley, South Carolina served five years in the United States Marine Corps, achieving the rank of sergeant
• Served on a deployment to Afghanistan
James Suggs
• Chemical engineering
• Native of Florence, South Carolina currently serves in the United States Navy
• Member of SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society
Allannisse Torres-Lebron
• Language and international health
• Native of Puerto Rico currently serves in the United States Army as a staff sergeant
