Celebrating Military-Affiliated Terrier F1RSTS on Veterans Day!
We are excited to highlight three of our military-affiliated Terrier F1RSTS on Veterans Day! We thank ALL of our military-affiliated students, whether they are veterans, active duty, ROTC, in the Reserves, or family members!
Name: Tony Cameron
Home State: North Carolina
Undergrad Institution: University of Massachusetts Lowell
Current Degree Program: Master of Social Work, Online Program
Branch and a Brief Overview of your Military Career so far:
I served in the Active-Duty U.S. Air Force from 1980 until 2009. I began my career as a supply specialist for my first 19 yrs and then as a First Sergeant for 11yrs and my final active duty was a Command Chief for approximately 1500 Airman assigned to the Afghanistan Area of Operations. My assignments were as follows: Sicily, England, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Honduras
What does it mean to you to be a first-gen military-affiliated student at BU?
Being a first-generation, military-affiliated pursuing a Master of Social Work at Boston University carries deep personal and generational meaning. It represents breaking barriers that limited prior generations from higher education and achieving a milestone that honors both family legacy and military service. As a 30-year Air Force veteran, this journey reflects resilience, discipline, and a lifelong commitment to service values forged in the military and now applied to social work in service of others. As a husband and father of 11 children and 20 grandchildren it is truly an honor to be a guiding light to my family who are my inspiration.
It also embodies representation and empowerment: inspiring your children and community to reach beyond structural and cultural limitations. The transition from military to academic life symbolizes transformation shifting from defending the nation to advocating for individuals and families in need. At BU, being a first-generation military-affiliated student means carrying forward the Air Force core values of integrity, service before self, and excellence, while embracing the social work mission to foster social justice, equity, and human dignity.
Ultimately, this accomplishment stands as a bridge between two worlds honoring your heritage and service while paving a path for others to follow, demonstrating that dedication and faith can break generational ceilings and redefine what success looks like for veterans and first-generation students alike.
Name: Kennedy Maldonado
Homestate: California
Undergrad Institution: Hampton University
Current Degree Program: Master of Science in Television
Branch and a Brief Overview of your Military Career so far:
In 2019, I commissioned as a Naval Officer. During my time in the Navy, I served as a Supply Corps Officer. My first duty station was in San Diego, CA onboard USS Lake Erie (CG 70).There I was in charge of all food, retail, postal, and hotel services and their respective divisions. After a few years there, I was stationed in Newport Rhode Island at the Navy Supply Corps School, where I taught new officers in various subjects including leadership management, retail operations and food services. I recently separated from the Navy this September to pursue my masters but I look back on my career fondly and would not trade the experience for anything.
What does it mean to you to be a first-gen military-affiliated student at BU?
I am a child of two immigrant parents, my mother from Colombia and father from Mexico. Neither of them had a college education, however, they deeply encouraged me to pursue mine. My mother shared her regret of not joining the military when she moved to this country and convinced me it was the best way to give back to the country that provided so many opportunities for my family. I am so grateful for her advice because the military has given me such valuable life-lessons at a young age, not to mention the chance to further my education.
Name: Joshua Park Issermoyer
Home State: Pennsylvania
Undergrad Institution: Pennsylvania State University
Current Degree Program: Masters of Business Administration, Online Program
Branch and a Brief Overview of your Military Career so far:
United States Air Force
What does it mean to you to be a first-gen military-affiliated student at BU?
Becoming a first-generation BU student and potential graduate through Boston’s Online MBA program is a tremendous accomplishment and honor to work and learn alongside fellow high performers from around the world. The University’s highly regarded academic rigor and well renowned faculty have made the experience wonderful so far and have exceeded all my expectations. Serving in the U.S Military is the most selfless sacrifice one can decide to endure. As a result, higher education and professional growth is consistently emphasized and instilled as a foundational core value, which made pursuing a graduate degree with BU an easy decision and I am very happy with my decision. Thank you to the OMBA staff and my current classmates! I look forward to growing alongside everyone during this process!