Supporting military-connected students at Virginia Western Community College can extend far beyond the Roanoke Valley’s borders. Three student veterans journeyed to Colorado in January for a valuable opportunity for networking and personal growth.
The Student Veterans of America National Conference, known as NatCon, is the largest gathering of student veterans globally. Virginia Western counts among over 1,600 campuses across the U.S. and abroad with SVA chapters. The 18th Annual NatCon took place Jan. 8-10, 2026, at The Broadmoor Resort and Convention Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
As SVA describes, “NatCon serves as a focal point in the academic year to share ideas, best practices, and network with veteran and military-affiliated students, their families, supporters, and allies, as well as corporate, government, and nonprofit partners, and more.”
Virginia Western’s services for military-connected students include the Military Student Center, which is designed to be a one-stop resource for services such as academic advising, benefits information, and a study area with computers and printers. Virginia Western has been recognized with a Silver Designation as a Military Friendly institution for the 2025-26 year.
The three student veterans who attended NatCon are all active members and officers of Virginia Western’s Armed Forces Student Association: Tyler Nance, AFSA club president and MSC work-study student; Cody Stratton, AFSA club vice president; and Joshua Vazquez, AFSA club treasurer.
The AFSA’s mission is to support new veteran and armed forces students as they transition to student and civilian life, while also fostering understanding of military life among faculty, staff and the broader student body.
“This conference gave our student veterans an opportunity they simply wouldn’t have had otherwise,” said Brandon Snead, VERITAS Veteran Liaison at Virginia Western. “By fully funding their attendance, the school removed a major financial barrier and allowed them to gain leadership skills, build national networks, and connect with peers from across the country. It was a meaningful investment in our students and their future, and one we’re proud to support.”
Nance, a U.S. Navy veteran with a background in F-18 avionics, is studying business at Virginia Western. Highlights for him included speakers such as Gen. James Mattis and two Medal of Honor recipients. Disney’s Heroes Work Here program and Google had a large presence among employers and firms who were present as event supporters, Nance said, with Google giving Pixel phones at the conference. “IBM offered more than a thousand courses online for free for student veterans. That’s huge,” Nance said.
The three Western students were able to tailor their NatCon experiences with a choice of more than 60 breakout sessions. “They had sessions on everything from mental health to fundraising,” Nance said.
Cody Stratton served in the U.S. Air Force and is studying to enter a healthcare field. “I got the opportunity to learn from other veterans and older students to properly continue to navigate my education and be successful in my educational endeavors,” Stratton said.
“Along with that, I was able to gather hiring information for companies I and many students never considered as options, such as EY Industries and medical career placement with companies like Boeing. I have made note and even already passed on some of these hiring avenues,” some of which he’s also been able to share with nonveteran students. Stratton said a significant part of NatCon was “meeting people with similar backgrounds and struggles and learning to navigate those issues in a productive way.”
Joshua Vazquez is a U.S. Army veteran who is in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program. “The 2026 SVA NatCon was the first time I attended an academic conference, and I’m thankful for being able to represent Virginia Western in Colorado,” he said.
Vazquez serves as treasurer for two student clubs at Virginia Western: ASFA and the PTA Club. “The most impactful time I had during the conference was a breakout session on fundraising. During the session, there were student veterans from D1 universities, private liberal arts colleges and community colleges. I was able to connect, brainstorm and network with student veterans in similar roles.”
Virginia Western’s AFSA chapter fundraises to support club activities and benefit the broader student and veteran community. Historically, these funds have been used for initiatives such as providing snacks during finals, contributing amenities to the MSC, and supporting other student-focused efforts.
Nance noted that while there were attendees from large universities such as Ohio State and Florida State, smaller four-year schools and community colleges were very well represented. “The chapter of the year was a community college this year. So it shows that as a smaller school, we still have an impact and a voice on a national scale,” Nance said.
Nance, Vazquez and Stratton thanked Snead, the College, and Virginia Western’s president, Dr. Laura Treanor, for providing this opportunity.
Their new club goals include more fundraising and outreach to grow the chapter and participate in events such as Washington Week. “Student Veterans of America go to Washington and sit in on legislation meetings and have a look at it from a national level,” Nance said. NatCon increased their awareness of many programs and opportunities, and now they are moving forward “knowing we can go to these things and make a difference.”
