Along with Cornell-issued ID cards, room keys and tote bags, a select group of incoming students recently picked up gear issued by the federal government: camouflage uniforms.

“When they hand me my uniform, it’s the real deal: I’m officially a U.S. Army cadet,” said Andy McMurray ’29 of Long Island, who is entering the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Cornell’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). “That’s something I’ve always wanted, so I’m looking forward to it.”

34th Annual POW/MIA Recognition Day Watchfire

Friday, September 19, 2025
7 PM
Myers Park
Lansing, New York

August 27, 2025
4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Memorial Room, Willard Straight Hall

Hosted by President Michael Kotlikoff

Join us as we convene Cornell’s military community to express our gratitude for its commitment to public service and to welcome in the new academic year.

Black Hawk helicopter pilot Ben Groen found himself constantly tending to unreliable fences when he began to farm as a hobby on his 24-acre property near Fort Drum in upstate New York. Problems with a post or an electrical short could invite one of his 1,200-pound Scottish Highland bulls to stray into a neighbor’s pasture or trample his own yard.

Running sprints up Libe Slope early on a cold Monday, as thunder rumbled and a downpour began, Samuel Rabin ’25 felt a moment of disbelief – why are we doing this? – along with determination to persevere through the extreme conditions.

“I wanted to set an example and help motivate others,” Rabin, the outgoing cadet commander of Cornell’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Tri-Service Brigade, recalled of that morning during his junior year. “You want to be up front, showing that if people are still going up the slope while it’s raining and wet and cold, then you can, too.”

Meet up with fellow veterans, family, and friends for collaboration, camaraderie, and
COFFEE. Everyone is welcome, so bring the family,friends, and co-workers.

The Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy has become the first Ivy League school to join Service to Service, a partnership led by the Volcker Alliance and We the Veterans that helps schools of public service connect veterans and military families with public service education pathways and propel them into stable and impactful careers in public leadership.

On Veterans Day, a series of speakers shared personal reflections about how camaraderie shapes both military and academic life as part of Cornell’s celebration of its military and veteran community, held in the Biotechnology Building on Nov. 11.

Ana Chan’s dog, a Great Dane named Rodgers, was sentenced to death.

Chan, a disabled Army veteran with a traumatic brain injury and partial blindness in one eye, relied on Rodgers for companionship, routine and physical support. She felt safer in crosswalks with Rodgers keeping his blue eyes on the traffic. His height meant he could close kitchen cabinets so Chan wouldn’t hit her head. His strength kept her upright when she lost her balance.

12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Military Appreciation Luncheon & Military/Art Exhibition
Barton Hall – Join your peers and the ROTC for the annual luncheon.
3:15pm – 5:00pm, Veteran’s Day Commemoration
G10 BioTech – Hear guest speakers discuss “camaraderie” during this years event,
including Honored Speaker, Lieutenant General Benjamin Watson, USMC, Cornell ’91.
5:15 – 6:15 pm, Greenlight-A-Vet & Chimes Concert
BioTech Atrium – Listen to the service anthems and see the clocktower lights turn green in
tribute to our veteran community.

Cornell University has once again been recognized as a top school for students who are veterans. In the 2025 U.S. News and World Report rankings of Best Colleges for Veterans, Cornell is ranked #1, tied with the University of Chicago.

According to the publication, U.S. News’s ranking methodology “[provides] data on top-ranked schools that make pursuing a college education more affordable for veterans and active-duty service members.” Eligible institutions must be certified for the GI Bill and participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program or be a public school.

“We’re proud to once again be recognized as a leader in educational opportunities for military veterans,” said Katherine McComas, vice provost for engagement and land-grant affairs. “Cornell’s continued and growing commitment to this vital community brings a diversity of thought and experiences that enriches our university.”

Explore the Ivy League’s only dedicated housing for Veterans: meet student veterans and residents, faculty, and staff Veterans Colleague Network Group (VCNG) members. Pizza and refreshments to be served.