Utah Guardsman Honored as U of U Student Veteran of the Year

By Alexandra Burton
Originally published in the Utah Daily Chronicle

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Lt. Gov. Greg Bell presented the Student Veteran of the Year Award Nov. 8 to Brent Taylor, a graduate student in education and a member of the Utah Army National Guard.

“We read about people like [Taylor] in books, in fiction, but not in real life,” Bell said as he introduced Taylor during a ceremony held in the Union Ballroom.

The award, which was given last night for only the second time, recognizes full-time student veterans who have demonstrated achievements in academics, national service and within their community.

“It’s about their contributions as a whole person, not just as a veteran,” said Roger Perkins, director of the Veteran Support Center. “Most people think of veterans as a group of people, but they are very cultured … There’s a special way to walk and talk.”


Student Veteran of the Year Brent Taylor, a member of the Utah National Guard,
accepts his award Nov. 8. Taylor is working toward a masters in public administration
and a doctorate in international relations. Photo by Erin Burns.

 Taylor received a $1,000 cash award and a military coin from Zions Bank, as well as a medallion from the Veteran Support Center. His name will be engraved on a plaque in the Veteran Support Center office.

“I feel honored to have received it,” Taylor said. “It’s special to represent all the veterans at the U. I’m very proud to be a veteran. You put on the uniform and it’s a very special feeling. It’s like no other job out there.”

Taylor said he and his wife made the decision for him serve in the Army nine years ago. He served in numerous positions, beginning as a counterintelligence agent for the Utah Army National Guard in 2003. He served in three tours, two in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, in addition to stateside tours. His military awards include the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

Since returning from service, Taylor serves on the city council in North Ogden. He has been involved in the political process and serves with young people in his church.

“The award is to recognize those who continue to serve outside of the military,” Perkins said.

During his acceptance speech, Taylor said that the best part of receiving the award was being recognized on the field at the football game on Saturday with his wife and kids.

“It really is a family affair, serving in the military,” he said.

Students and professors nominate veterans for the award, which a student committee narrows down to three candidates. The Veterans Day committee chooses the final recipient.

This year, 27 students were nominated for the award, two of which did not meet award qualifications and were disregarded. Perkins said that nominees must be full-time student veterans, have a GPA of at least 3.5 and have no criminal record.

Two runners up, Shane Leavitt and Rachel Evans, both graduate students, were also awarded with a cash prize.

Evans, a student in social work, specializes in working with veterans.

“It’s important to have this community,” she said. “As much as we give each other crap for our different branches in the military, it’s nice to have a group of people that get it.”