Nursing student named finalist for national Student Veteran of the Year

For Madeline Graf, everything ties back to a commitment to service — whether that be her nursing education, her military service or her involvement on campus. 

A senior in the College of Nursing, Graf’s leadership of the Auburn Student Veterans Association (ASVA) garnered recognition from the Student Veterans of America, as she was selected as one of 10 finalists for the Student Veteran of the Year award.

In addition to studying full-time and getting involved around campus, the Peachtree City, Georgia, native serves as an egress systems technician in the Air National Guard, where she ensures pilots are able to eject from planes safely in an emergency event. 

From planes to the Plains 

After almost a year of service, Graf began her studies at Auburn, hoping to provide life-saving measures in a new capacity. Hospitalization, like combat, is a difficult experience that necessitates that connection. 

“I study nursing because I have the desire to serve others, and nursing allows you to be the person that people can lean on and connect with in their most vulnerable moments,” Graf said. 

With countless options to choose from, Graf decided to come to the Plains because the culture and community aligned with her goals.

“Auburn has always been a place where I felt like I could fit in and find my community,” she said. “Every single person I’ve met, whether it’s been through Nursing, the ASVA or intramurals and other clubs, has shaped me into who I am today. I’m grateful to Auburn for allowing me to meet such a diverse group of people and grow alongside them.” 

A big believer in getting out what you put in, Graf’s extensive involvement has not gone unnoticed. 

Beyond the national praise she has received, Graf also won Auburn’s Student Leader of the Year at The Involvement Awards, an annual ceremony hosted by Student Involvement to honor exceptional achievement among the more than 550 student organizations on campus. The ASVA also won Most Exceptional Campus Organization under her leadership.

In addition to her daily commitment to helping student veterans around campus, she is involved extensively with initiatives such as Operation Iron Ruck, an annual collaboration between the ASVA and the University of Alabama’s Student Veterans Association. Members of each organization trek the 151-mile distance between Tuscaloosa and Auburn ahead of the Iron Bowl to raise money for organizations fighting veteran suicide. 

The most recent ruck raised almost $100,000 for the cause, drawing in over 160 participants. 

Sharing the love 

Throughout all of her big wins, Graf has always maintained that the ASVA staff is equally as deserving of the recognition as she is. 

“I truly could not thrive in this position if it wasn’t for our executive team,” Graf said. “They do such incredible work behind the scenes, and they deserve so much praise. If I could have passed down these awards to any of the people on my team, I definitely would have done so.”