Fordham President Tania Tetlow to Announce Major Veterans Initiative at Ceremony Honoring Student Veterans

New “Fordham Veterans Initiative” Aims to Double Military-Affiliated Student Enrollment

On the eve of its 180th Commencement, Fordham University will host its annual Yellow Ribbon Medallion Ceremony to celebrate the achievements and service of its graduating student veterans. Held at Keating Hall, on the Rose Hill campus in the Bronx, the event brings together family, friends, faculty, and staff to recognize these students’ academic and personal journeys.

This year’s ceremony will include a significant announcement: Fordham President Tania Tetlow will unveil the Fordham Veterans Initiative, a bold, university-wide commitment to doubling military-affiliated student enrollment over the next five years. The initiative will strengthen Fordham’s role as a destination for those who’ve served.

“Our student veterans embody Fordham’s Jesuit values—service, integrity, and the pursuit of meaningful purpose,” Tetlow said. “As we honor their accomplishments, we are also reaffirming our commitment to those who follow in their footsteps. The Fordham Veterans Initiative will expand access and support for military-connected students, ensuring that even more veterans and their families can thrive here.”

“The Yellow Ribbon Medallion Ceremony is more than a celebration—it’s a moment to honor those who have served our country in uniform and their families,” said Matt Butler, executive director of the Office of Military and Veterans’ Services. “We recognize not only the academic accomplishments of our veterans, but also the path they’ve taken to get here. The Fordham Veterans Initiative is our commitment to ensuring that even more service members, veterans, and their families find a place, a purpose, and a future at Fordham.”

Commissioner James Hendon, NYC Department of Veterans Services, will be in attendance. Also offering remarks will be Armando Nuñez, chair of the Fordham Board of Trustees, who will reflect on the legacy of service that has helped shape the University’s mission and identity, which includes six Medal of Honor recipients.

Graduates will receive symbolic yellow ribbons, which they will wear with pride at Commencement the following day. According to Butler, the ribbons honor the values of service, resilience, and leadership that veterans bring to the Fordham community.

The ceremony will conclude with the ringing of the Victory Bell, a cherished Fordham tradition with military origins. The bell was gifted to the University after World War II by Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who seized it from a Japanese aircraft carrier. President Harry S. Truman was the first to ring it, and since then, it has tolled at commencement and after athletic victories. Since 2019, that tradition has come full circle as graduating student veterans ring the bell to mark their victories, navigating the transition from military to academic life and into their professional careers.

The ceremony will begin at 4 pm, followed by a reception for graduates and guests. For more information about the Fordham Veterans Initiative or the Office of Military and Veterans’ Services, please visit the Fordham OMVS website.

About the Office of Military and Veterans’ Services at Fordham University: Fordham University’s Office of Military and Veterans’ Services (OMVS) supports veterans, service members, and military-connected students as they transition from military life to college and into professional careers. Through personalized support, benefit navigation, career development, and a strong community network, OMVS ensures student veterans thrive academically, socially, and professionally. As a proud Yellow Ribbon Program participant, Fordham is committed to honoring those who served by investing in their success, on campus and beyond.

Photo: Fordham University Board Chair Armando Nuñez and President Tania Tetlow pose with graduating student veterans following the 2024 Yellow Ribbon Ceremony.

Media contact: Sam Kille