November 9, 2026
When Cameron decided to go to college after eight years of service in the U.S. Navy, he wasn’t sure how he’d feel making the transition to student life. He’d grown accustomed to the structure offered by the military, as well as the close comradery that passes between those who’ve served.
At Nebraska, Cameron saw a reputation for supporting and fostering community among our student veterans that felt like the exact sort of environment that could help him thrive.
“I was trying to find something similar to that structure and support system I had in the military,” Cameron says. “Visiting Nebraska, I met all these amazing people down at the Military and Veteran Success Center, and that's really what drew me here — I saw a support system that reflected what I needed.”
After becoming a Husker, Cameron did more than lean on that support system — he became a crucial part of it.
By taking on a job in the Military and Veteran Success Center (MVSC), Cameron began to play his own role in upholding the Big Red’s legacy of excellence for his fellow Husker vets, one that led him to be named a 2026 National Veterans Leadership Foundation (NVLF) Leadership Fellow.
“The NVLF is amazing,” Cameron says. “They focus on making the transition from military service to the civilian world a little easier, whether it be transitioning into college or other forms of civilian life.”
Cameron was among twenty-two fellows nationwide chosen to attend a conference on military community advocacy, learning crucial leadership and mentorship skills from highly-ranked service members and industry professionals. The trainings gave fellows like Cameron new tools to educate people who aren’t military affiliated about the unique challenges people in the military may be facing as they go to college.
“This work isn't just geared toward helping veterans, but empowering the whole campus,” Cameron explains. “By educating more people on these issues, we can all be mindful of how we can support our veterans when they need it.”
The NVLF Fellowship is given to student veterans who have already demonstrated a commitment to strengthening their military communities on their campus, which was very much the case with Cameron. Working in the Military and Veteran Success Center across his college career, Cameron has continually shown up for vets by pointing them toward the resources they need to be successful — or, even, just being there to listen.
“Transition into civilian life alongside other veterans has really been a difference maker for me, and I think the center is such a great way to build those connections,” Cameron says. “By being there to share in each other’s struggles, help people face a unique challenge or just answer questions they have, you can really turn someone’s day around, and maybe even more.”
Cameron Adkins senior computer science major from King George, Virginia.