Veterans Honor Society Inducts First Members

The Saint Louis University chapter of the only national honor society centered on the service and scholastic achievements of student veterans inducted its first members May 16. The induction was the first event hosted by SALUTE.

The society’s name stands for “Service, Academics, Leadership, Unity, Tribe and Excellence.” It recognizes the contributions of active duty and student veterans. SLU’s chapter was chartered in fall 2016.

The push behind bringing SALUTE to campus, Chris Penberthy, enrollment coordinator, said, was to offer further support for student veterans and to align their military experiences with their time at SLU. The hope, Penberthy said, is that these connections make SALUTE’s first members a resource to help others.

“What we’re hoping,” Penberthy explained, “is that this going to be a group who can come back to mentor our future generations of SLU student veterans.”

There are currently about 400 students who are veterans or who utilize veterans benefits on campus, Penberthy said. 

According to Jennifer Matteson, the chapter's advisor and coordinator of academic certification, the chapter is one of more than 200 in the nation. SALUTE began in 2009 in Colorado. 

Air Force Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Cassie Strom addressed the 17 new SALUTE members and their guests, discussing service to school and community. 

The new members completed an application process before being selected for SALUTE. SALUTE members must maintain high GPAs and have a military background or meet the criteria to be considered student veterans. The inductees ranged from undergraduate students to those completing doctorates. In addition to the requirements set by SALUTE nationally, SLU's chapter includes credit hour thresholds, Matteson said. Undergraduates must complete 90 credit hours and graduate students 15 to 20 in order to be eligible for membership.

"This is a chance," she said, "to recognize both their service and academic excellence."

The chapter plans another induction ceremony in the fall, Matteson said, and it could ramp up its presence on campus through service opportunities or other events. The direction SLU's chapter takes, she continued, will be up to its members.

"The chapter can be what members make of it," Matteson said.

For more information about SALUTE, contact Jennifer Matteson, SLU's chapter advisor, at 314-977-2259.