“I’ve been blessed to have military leaders and mentors who were always pushing me toward excellence, always encouraging me to better myself and challenging me to never be satisfied.”

Steve Palmer proudly served his country for seven years of active duty in the U.S. Army, including two tours in Iraq. One key piece of advice he received from leaders in the military—get an education.

and earn a degree. Palmer did just that, graduating with a degree in criminal justice from Viterbo in May. He found Viterbo to be a great place for veterans, with faculty who went out of their way to help veterans and military members, and an active student veterans group. He continues to serve as a drill instructor in the Army Reserves. “I chose Viterbo because of the university’s values and its reputation for excellence,” he said.