Sandra Cordell, Director of the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program in the UTC Gary W. Rollins College of Business, was awarded a Quilt of Valor from the Quilts of Valor Foundation and UTC Veteran Student Services on Wednesday, January 27, 2021.
A Quilt of Valor is awarded to active duty service members and living veterans of the Armed Forces who served in the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, and living Veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States during declared war, conflicts, police actions, peacekeeping missions, and counter terrorism operations and/or times of peace. Only veterans with an Honorable or General Discharge status are eligible for the award. The UTC Veteran Student Services office nominates and awards UTC students, faculty, and staff who meet the Quilt of Valor Foundation criteria.
“I am incredibly humbled to receive this recognition,” says Sandra. “I know many veterans who have sacrificed so much in service to our nation and I intend to help the Quilts of Valor Foundation to identify and award these deserving veterans.”
Sandra served in the United States Navy as a Yeoman, Petty Officer 3rd Class, along with her husband, Mark Cordell. Her time in the Navy was served at the Fleet Combat Training Center Atlantic Dam Neck in Virginia Beach, Va. Sandra’s father was a United States Navy veteran, and to continue the family’s tradition, her son Corwin will be a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force upon graduation from Middle Tennessee State University in 2022.
Since 2014, Sandra has served as the Director of the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business at UTC.
Now in its tenth year, the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP) offers a highly innovative immersion program built around hands-on learning, personalized interaction, and exposure to inspiring role models. Under Sandra’s leadership, the VEP has graduated 129 veterans. 57 of those graduates have gone on to launch veteran-owned small businesses. The mission of the VEP is to foster the creation of successful, profitable ventures owned by veterans. A team of world-class faculty, distinguished entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts work with delegates, providing a challenging, interactive, and informative experience. To learn more about the VEP, visit utc.edu/vep.
