Members of the Army ROTC raised the United States flag at a ceremony in honor of Veterans Day held Monday morning in front of Woods Hall on the UMSL campus. (Photo by Ryan Fagan)
On a brisk and bright Monday morning outside of Woods Hall on the campus of the University of Missouri–St. Louis, United States Army veteran and current UMSL student Kris Dotson-Orange stood next to Chancellor Kristin Sobolik and lifted his trumpet to deliver a stirring performance as Army ROTC cadets presented the United States flag in a solemn Flag Raising Ceremony.
The ceremony, held in honor of Veterans Day, paid tribute to those who have served in the United States military. Martina Meng, the UMSL Veterans Center manager who opened the event with a welcome, also recognized the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, which was founded on Nov. 10, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
“By doing events like this, where we’re in public, where our university leadership can be there and support us, it means the world,” Meng said. “Because not only am I seeing that, but our students are seeing that. When they can physically see that this campus does care about them, that’s the first step to making sure that they’re going to be successful. When we have their trust in us, then we are more likely to be able to help them further on down the line until graduation.”
The support that Meng and the Veterans Center offer is appreciated by the more than 500 veterans who have chosen to continue their education at UMSL.
The UMSL Veterans Center organizes several events every year, including the Veterans Center Annual Combat Fitness Test competition that was held earlier this semester. (Photo by Derik Holtmann)
“UMSL is deeply committed to supporting veterans who transition into higher education,” said Kavion Norman, an Air Force veteran. “The university’s Veterans Center provides guidance with benefits, academic advising and a welcoming community of fellow service members who understand the transition from military to college life.”
For Meng, an UMSL alum who is still serving in the Missouri National Guard, the goal for the center isn’t just to help veterans certify benefits – though that is a vital part of the role the center plays for more than 400 UMSL student veterans who are eligible – but to enrich their post-service college career.
“We’re here to make their college experience better, to make it more engaging, to make it worthwhile to come to campus,” she said. “We’re trying to give them an actual college experience here at UMSL.”
Here’s a look at a few of the veterans pursuing their post-military degrees at UMSL.
Kris Dotson-Orange
Veteran Kris Dotson-Orange was given the honor of playing his trumpet at the Flag Raising Ceremony on Monday in front of Woods Hall. (Photo by Ryan Fagan)
For the fourth time in his collegiate career at UMSL, Dotson-Orange was selected to perform at a Flag Raising Ceremony, and this time meant every bit as much as the first performance.
“I cannot describe the immense honor of being able to perform for Veterans Day,” Dotson-Orange said. “I have the distinct opportunity to represent both the Music Department and the Veterans Center, in which I work in a prestigious and honorable capacity.”
Dotson-Orange started his service in the United States Army in January 2015, enlisting as a tracked vehicle mechanic. He did his basic training in South Carolina and his advanced training in Virginia before serving in South Korea, Missouri and California, achieving the rank of staff seargent.
“My job varied a lot,” he said, “but the main focus was ensuring the readiness and dependability of my soldiers and the vehicles within the units in which I served.”
When his service concluded, Dotson-Orange, who graduated from Clayton High School, came back home to the St. Louis area. He knew he wanted to pursue his college degree, and he had two primary requirements.
“My two focuses were how I felt about the music program and how well the school was able to deal with veterans,” he said. “I was extremely impressed and heard high reviews of both and that made my decision to attend UMSL crystal clear.”
Dotson-Orange has worked at the Veterans Center since the summer of 2024. He’s currently one of 10 student workers – nine veterans and one dependent – supporting the center.
“I have absolutely enjoyed every minute of it,” he said. “It is important for me to be involved because I understand how crucial it is to have people with similar experiences available when these veterans are literally having everything they understand shifted from military to academia.”
Jordan Zezzo
Jordan Zezzo served in the Air Force for eight years before pursuing his business degree at UMSL. (Photo courtesy of Jordan Zezzo)
Zezzo isn’t from the St. Louis region – he’s originally from Columbus, Ohio – but his UMSL recommendation came from a very trusted source. His husband, whom he met while serving at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, just outside of St. Louis, is an UMSL alum.
“I had heard great things about the university,” he said, “and coming up to my transition out of the military, I did some research and found out that UMSL actually offered a degree program in the exact field of work I was in while active duty in the Air Force. I knew it was the right university for me not only on an academic level but also on a veteran level through the amazing knowledge and support the Veterans Center on campus has offered.”
Zezzo, who is pursuing his BBA at UMSL with an emphasis in supply chain management, served in the Air Force for eight years, enlisting right after graduating high school in 2017. He was deployed to Afghanistan in late 2021, serving as part of Operation Allies Refuge to assist in the evacuation of over 100,000 Afghan refugees. From there, he was stationed in Italy until deciding to exit active duty to pursue his college education.
At UMSL, he has found the ideal situation for his transition out of active duty.
“UMSL offers terrific support for veterans through their Veterans Center on campus, which can not only assist veterans with educational benefits and questions but also with life in the civilian sector and navigating the corporate work force,” Zezzo said.
Kavion Norman
Kavion Norman twice earned the Air and Space Achievement Medal for his performance and dedication to mission readiness. (Photo by Jay Fram)
Norman served in the United States Air Force for three years, doing his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and then serving at Nellis Air Force Base, just outside of Las Vegas. He worked in central storage and supply operations.
“My service gave me hands-on experience managing logistics, materials and mission support operation skills that taught me discipline, teamwork and adaptability,” he said. “During my time in the Air Force, I had the privilege of serving alongside people from all walks of life, which helped me grow as both a leader and a learner.”
When deciding where to continue his education, Norman wanted to find a place that valued the same sense of community and teamwork he found in the service. A St. Louis native, he had heard of UMSL’s veteran-friendly reputation, and he has found that reputation to be well-deserved. Norman is majoring in computer science, with specific interests in philosophy, science and technology.
“UMSL offered the perfect balance of staying connected to my roots while challenging myself academically and professionally,” he said. “I was drawn to UMSL’s strong community atmosphere, its emphasis on leadership and service, and the incredible opportunities to get involved on campus.
“My studies blend my passion for problem-solving and technology with a deeper interest in ethics, innovation and the societal impacts of emerging tech, especially in areas like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.”
While in the Air Force, Norman twice earned the Air and Space Achievement Medal for his performance and dedication to mission readiness, and he said that those experiences motivated him to continue serving in a leadership capacity once he arrived at UMSL.
He joined the Air Force ROTC and is training to commission as an officer, with aspirations to serve as an acquisitions manager or special investigations officer.
“I like to stay involved by representing both the veteran and cadet communities on campus,” Norman said. “Whether it’s through Air Force ROTC, helping promote wellness and leadership events through the University Program Board, or simply mentoring peers, I aim to be an example of how veterans can thrive academically and serve as leaders in civilian life. UMSL has truly given me a space to merge my military background with my goals for the future.”
Brian Simcoke
Brian Simcoke demonstrates one of the exercises at the Veterans Center Annual Combat Fitness Test competition earlier this semester. (Photo by Derik Holtmann)
Brian Simcoke’s Naval Basic Training Division 367 was sponsored by the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, so he took his oath to the United States Constitution along with his fellow enlistees on the Busch Stadium field before a baseball game in August 2008.
As a St. Louis native – he graduated from St. Charles High School shortly before enlisting – that was an especially memorable way to begin his service. And when he decided after more than a decade of active duty service and more than four years in the reserves that it was time to pursue his college education, there was never a doubt what university he would choose.
“My older brother Robert Simcoke, who is also a military veteran, came to UMSL before me and I wanted to as well,” he said. “I didn’t even look at other universities because UMSL has one of the best Veteran Centers out there.”
When he enrolled at UMSL – he’s in the Information Systems Technology program while pursuing a minor in cybersecurity – Simcoke brought a wealth of experience to campus, including serving on both the USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93) out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the USS Sampson (DDG-102). He served as a firefighter, damage-control person, IT professional and a weapon systems operator.
With his first ship, Simcoke was deployed three times and visited more than a dozen locations while on patrol of international waters, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Okinawa, South Korea, Vietnam, The Philippines, Guam, Thailand, Malaysia, Palau, American Samoa and Tahiti. On his second ship, he was deployed to the Western Pacific to assist the search-and-rescue efforts for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared over the ocean north of Indonesia.
At UMSL, Simcoke has used his technical skills to make the Veterans Center more efficient, building a web-based graphical dashboard to help the center assist the veterans on campus.
“It combines everything the Excel document has but allows for less chance of data loss or user errors, with built-in automation, icons, information flagging of missing information or documents, and it also puts all the web links and references needed for the center all into one singular dashboard,” he said. “This new dashboard allows for student notes or activities to be logged with time stamps, so when students call or come to see us, we can make a note all Vet Center staff can see within their student record. The Veterans Center has talked about showcasing it in future Missouri Veterans Center Education conferences.”
