When Lt. Colonel Chris Mihal, a native of New York state, graduated from West Point in 2007, the idea of attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln was not on his radar. Sixteen years later when Chris wanted to go back to school and pursue a Ph.D. in political science, UNL was the obvious choice. General John J. Pershing – Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I and, by act of Congress, the second-highest ranking officer in American history behind only George Washington – was himself a UNL graduate student. Pershing earned a degree at UNL while serving as the commander of the university’s ROTC program, a professor of military science and tactics, and founder of the first company of Pershing Rifles – the drill competition that has spread to all service academies and ROTC units in the country – here on campus.
Entering his second year of graduate school at UNL, was asked if anything about the experience of transitioning back to student life while still serving in the Army stands out. In a no-nonsense, to-the-point manner one might expect of a professional soldier, he said, “The fact I have no complaints means it’s pretty streamlined.” Dr. Alisha Hanshaw, Assistant Dean for Graduate Enrollment received Chris’s comment with pride. “The goal is to ensure all students have a seamless transition. We want to eliminate as many barriers to enrollment as possible.” Executive Director of the Military and Veterans Success Center, Col (R) Joe Brownell, echoes a similar mindset with the Military and Veterans Success Center. “We try to help, however that may work. Some students take a straight path, and others may have to explore a little bit more, but through it all you’re creating connections, so individuals are successful not only here but also in society.” The Military and Veterans Success Center provides students with opportunities that encourage engagement outside the classroom, as well as highly specialized support such as one-on-one counseling, reintegrating to civilian life, pre-deployment resources and assistance with military benefits.
In recognition of ongoing support and service to Military Dependents, Veterans, Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve students; Joe Brownell and Assistant Director Thomas Allison presented Graduate Studies staff members: Dr. Eva Bachman, Nathan Bruss, and Dr. Alisha Hanshaw with a University of Nebraska challenge coin on June 5, 2024.
While the origin of the challenge coin is varied – challenge coins have come to symbolize morale and hard work. When presented to civilians, they are intended as an acknowledgement of the support and commitment to serving service members and their families
When asked about the challenge coin tradition, Chris talks about how coins denoting membership in a specific unit stretch all the way back to the Roman legions. Customs surrounding displaying the coins vary almost as widely as attempts to explain their origin. Some soldiers keep desktop display cases to prominently show the coins they’ve accumulated in their careers while others, like Chris, hold onto them as private mementos from various points in their years of service.
For more information about the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Military and Veterans Success Center, visit https://vetsuccess.unl.edu/