Holiday for Heroes rallies support for military-connected students at UTC

UTC Veteran and Military Affairs Director Sylvana Matthews, right, hands out food and prizes Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at Holiday for Heroes on the UTC campus. Photo by Angela Foster.

For military-connected students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, balancing classes, service commitments and civilian life isn’t easy. Events like Holiday for Heroes help lighten the load, offering camaraderie, practical support and a touch of holiday cheer.

“It’s a little extra treat,” said Jessica Hobbs, president of UTC’s Student Veterans Organization (SVO) and an Army Reserve sergeant. A junior majoring in civil engineering, Hobbs knows the struggle firsthand; she came to UTC from Johnson City, Tennessee, but had to put her studies on hold during a deployment to Kuwait with the 316th Engineer Company in 2021.

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Holiday for Heroes aims to ease some of those struggles by creating moments of connection and care.

This year’s event, held the week before Thanksgiving, included a turkey and meal giveaway bolstered by contributions from local businesses—a testament to UTC’s deep ties to the community.

“The inspiration behind Holiday for Heroes is to create a space where military-connected students and their families feel valued and supported,” said Sylvana Matthews, UTC’s director of Veteran and Military Affairs. “Local businesses played a pivotal role. Their financial support, in-kind donations and services helped make the event a success while fostering greater community engagement.”

Jessica Hobbs

Hobbs played a crucial role in strengthening partnerships with local businesses, helping ensure the event’s success. For her, though, the real impact goes beyond logistics.

Events like this, she said, make military students feel less isolated.

“A big part of what we do in the (Student Veterans Organization) is to build that connection so people know they’re not alone,” Hobbs said. “It’s like having a little piece of the military community here on campus.”

For Garrett Davis, vice president of the SVO and a business analytics major, balancing military service and college life is a constant adjustment. A member of the U.S. Army National Guard, Davis returned to UTC in January after spending most of 2023 deployed in Poland.

“The transition from soldier to student isn’t always smooth,” Davis said. “One day, you’re training with your unit; the next, you’re back in class trying to meet deadlines.”

Events like Holiday for Heroes, he added, offer more than just a festive break—they provide a tangible reminder that the UTC community supports its military-connected students.

Garrett Davis

The SVO plays a crucial role in supporting and helping military-connected students navigate benefits, connect through networking events and create a sense of belonging rooted in shared military experiences. These efforts reflect UTC’s commitment to supporting military-connected students, a dedication recognized with designations as a Military Friendly® and Military Spouse Friendly® school–as well as being named the best college for veterans in Tennessee by Military Times.

Military-connected students make up about 10% of UTC’s student body and include veterans, active-duty service members, members of the National Guard, reservists, their families and students in UTC’s ROTC program.

That level of support comes from a coordinated effort between UTC’s Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, the SVO and other departments across campus. For this November’s Holiday for Heroes, the Office of Student Outreach and Support (SOS) provided essential resources to ensure the event reached as many students as possible.

“It’s all about making sure military-connected students have what they need to succeed,” Matthews said. “Whether it’s through peer mentoring in the SVO, basic needs services from SOS or events like this, we’re working together to meet them where they are.”