Tepper School Veterans: Thank You for Your Service

The Tepper School thanks all members of the Armed Forces for their military service this Veterans Day.

Veterans Day, also known as Armistice Day and/or Remembrance Day throughout the world, is celebrated on November 11 every year to acknowledge the end of World War I, which took place on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. We continue to celebrate this holiday as a way to honor the service of all military veterans (those who have served in any branch of the United States Armed Forces). 

The Tepper School wishes all active duty and veteran military personnel, including students, faculty, and staff, a happy Veterans Day. We thank you for your service. 

To celebrate Veterans Day, we are sharing the stories of our military MBA students who have used their leadership, camaraderie, and experience to contribute to the Tepper School’s tight-knit, diverse, and inclusive community.

Celebrating Military MBA Students

Describe your journey to the Tepper School:

I’m a first-generation American, and I’m the first in my family to go to college and serve in the military. I commissioned as a quartermaster officer in the U.S. Army and continued working in the supply chain industry post-military. I wanted to continue my personal and professional growth, so I came to Tepper for my MBA.

What is your most memorable moment from being a Tepper student, so far?

So far, my most memorable moment has been the Out and Allied and Veterans Association Drag Brunch. I chowed down on some delicious waffles with some new friends and sang along with the performers. Sunday Funday at its finest and spoke volumes to the sense of community at Tepper.

What advice would you offer prospective students, especially those who are veterans?

Lean into your personality and history when you are applying. Your experiences, especially in the military, have exposed you to a lot of unique leadership opportunities and challenges. I’m sure you have a bunch of stories to draw from to highlight who you are and what has shaped your journey.

What is it like being a veteran at Tepper?

The Tepper Veterans Association is a tight knit group. We all come from various backgrounds and disciplines, but ultimately, we are here to help each other succeed. There are so many forms of support that come through the community. We offer a mentorship program, workshop for networking/recruiting events, and we navigate veteran resources and benefits together. 

Describe your journey to the Tepper School:

After spending eight years in the U.S. Army as an Engineer, I had the leadership skills to be in business but needed to improve my quantitative skills in order to be competitive in the civilian workforce. Tepper seemed like a perfect fit and it is close to my family in Youngstown, Ohio, where I grew up. 

How do you intend to use your Tepper degree?

I am going to go into consulting with PwC following graduation and I really want to work on innovation and marketing projects specifically. I really like helping people and I think making better, more useful, and more affordable products for customers is a great outlet for that part of my personality.

What does being a veteran mean to you? 

The military has really been a part of my upbringing at this point because when I left home at 18, I still had a lot of growing up to do. It was great to come up in an organization that teaches the values and lessons that the military instills in young leaders. 

What is it like being a veteran at Tepper?

The community is extremely supportive and I've always felt welcome at Carnegie Mellon as well as in Pittsburgh. Also, I am still serving as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves and the school is incredibly flexible and accommodating whenever conflicts come up between school and reserve duty. 

What is one thing people can do today to support veterans?

Mentor a veteran who is transitioning out of the military so it can ease the stress and mistakes made during that transition. Also, there are still way too many homeless veterans out there, so please donate to places such as Veterans Place here in Pittsburgh or Disabled American Veterans.

Describe your journey to the Tepper School:

I am an immigrant from China and I have been in the U.S. for six years. Before Tepper, I worked for four years in the U.S. casino industry in marketing/operations functions and five years in China as a police officer. Outside of work, I also serve as a language interpreter for the Chinese community.  

I joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve as I had always aspired to military experience and I like to meet new people. In my free time, I'm a huge fan of cooking, both Chinese and western style. I love preparing a full table of dishes and inviting my friends to share the food and laughter.

How do you intend to use your Tepper degree?

To pivot into the healthcare industry, especially in the fields of service accessibility, wellness education, and technology innovation. 

What is your most memorable moment from being a Tepper student, so far?

Upon hearing that due to COVID-19 effect, my reporting time for my military duty was suddenly moved to around MBA application cutoff time; Tepper admission offered to work around my situation to accommodate my interview. They made sure I went through the application process smoothly, and I feel so grateful that I had the privilege to enter Tepper.

What advice would you offer prospective students, especially those who are veterans?

Be true to yourself. The journey to pursue the MBA degree is also the journey to find your inspiration and what you really want to do in life. Have faith in yourself; no matter what path you choose, you will always find support along the way.

What does being a veteran mean to you? 

I am currently still serving in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and my future plan is to build up my career in the military and civilian world at the same time. The U.S. Air Force is a big, inclusive family. I truly enjoy making friends from all different backgrounds, regardless of age, gender, and ethnicity. Together we carry the honor and mission of the U.S. Air Force.