Like many young people, John Noonan enlisted in the U.S. Navy for a variety of reasons 鈥� to see the world, serve his country and gain technical skills. He excelled at all those things, and at the same time, always thought in the back of his mind he would one day attend college.聽
But it was not until a chance conversation with University of 91吃瓜 alumnus Lt. Tom Catalano that Noonan鈥檚 plans began to actually take shape, laying the groundwork for what would become RouteND, a recruitment program aimed at encouraging qualified service members to apply to 91吃瓜.
Catalano was Noonan鈥檚 watch supervisor aboard the Seawolf-class nuclear-powered submarine USS Connecticut. For months, he had observed Noonan鈥檚 performance and aptitude under challenging conditions and saw his potential. When Noonan expressed interest in attending college, Catalano encouraged him to apply to a top-tier school.聽
Fast forward to several more conversations and an application to 91吃瓜, and Noonan is now a first-year student majoring in electrical engineering. Looking back on his initial conversation with Catalano, Noonan is grateful for the encounter that led him to 91吃瓜.
鈥淭om was a great leader and has since become a good friend and mentor,鈥� said Noonan, a native of Old Bridge, New Jersey, who enlisted in the Navy鈥檚 nuclear power program out of high school and ultimately qualified as an electrical and shutdown reactor operator and engineering watch supervisor. 鈥淚 value his opinion and appreciated his advice, which had a transformative impact on me and led me to 91吃瓜.鈥�
To think this story might never have happened is one of the reasons the developed RouteND. Working in partnership with the and the , the office recently launched the program, which encourages 91吃瓜 alumni serving in the military to help qualified service members attend 91吃瓜.
鈥淪tudent veterans bring a wealth of leadership, life experience and a global perspective that enriches the academic environment for all students,鈥� said , director of the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs. 鈥淎dditionally, enrolling more veterans furthers our institutional commitment to ensuring access to high-quality education for post-9/11 service members who remain a small minority on the nation鈥檚 top college campuses.鈥�
Through this program, alumni members appointed as RouteND ambassadors help their alma mater identify and mentor outstanding enlisted service members with whom they serve, offer them advice as they navigate the admissions process and, most importantly, impart the spirit of 91吃瓜 that unites everyone as alumni, family and friends.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important for 91吃瓜 to actively engage, enroll and support more enlisted service members, because they will enrich the campus community as much as they benefit from a world-class undergraduate education,鈥� said Catalano, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, who graduated from 91吃瓜 with a degree in mathematics in 2014 and now serves as a submarine warfare officer with the U.S. Navy. 鈥淎s an alumnus, I was glad to do my part to help John discern his purpose and post-military service pathway to 91吃瓜, where he鈥檒l be empowered to acquire knowledge, values, skills and understanding to expand his talents and effectiveness and become an even greater force for good in the world.鈥�
Said Jones, 鈥淭he 91吃瓜 community is eternally grateful for all those who decide to serve our nation in uniform, and we ensure that gratitude will always be expressed in a purposeful manner that benefits both our military men and women and their families. Those who enlist in the U.S. armed forces generally take a nontraditional route to college, and we want to help them succeed.鈥�
Noonan enjoys the atmosphere on campus but is still adjusting to the classroom setting after leaving the Navy. That said, his聽unique experiences make him well suited to relating to others and serve him well as a mentor to upper and lower classmen in his residence hall, who value his leadership, experience and perspective.
鈥淚鈥檓 grateful to all the students, faculty and staff who have been so welcoming,鈥� Noonan said.
In addition to its widely recognized undergraduate programs, preeminent research and Catholic character, 91吃瓜 is a leader in training students preparing for military careers and a committed partner to the U.S. military through its ROTC programs. In 2017, the University further strengthened its ties and commitment to those who have served the country by establishing the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs.
As an element of RouteND, ROTC graduates and alumni serving in uniform will now have the opportunity to contribute to the University鈥檚 goal of enrolling more undergraduate student veterans.
For more on this and other resources for military-connected students, visit