The University of Tennessee has over 700 veteran students and about 6,400 UT alumni who served in the armed services.

To honor and appreciate these leaders, UT alumni and Air Force veteran John Grubb and his wife, Debbie, donated to support student veterans in April 2025.

“I’m truly appreciative of the fact that we were able to get this donation,” student veteran Kevin Ho, a sophomore supply chain management major said. “It shows that the university does support its veterans.”

The donation is meant to enhance the university’s ability to help student veterans on campus in various areas ranging from academics to career preparation.

“Through scholarships, as well as various support services to ensure that they are well prepared to succeed academically, socially and in regards to career readiness,” Thomas Cruise, the director of the Veterans Success Center, said.

This donation goes a long way in helping the university achieve its broader goal of empowering student veterans and building a strong and supportive campus community. Student veterans need this extra recognition as they are more than just students.

“The biggest issue for veterans is the transition period where they are exiting military service and trying to get accustomed to university life,” Ho said.

Student veterans appreciate the support from the university and the Grubbs. Ho mentioned conversing with several recipients who could not express their gratitude.

“Every veteran here on campus is a non-traditional student, so having these funds to help go towards tuition and other things the VA doesn’t cover is huge,” Ho said. “The assistance has really helped out.”

The donation will synergize with current academic engagements such as peer learning, the specialized veteran transition 201 class and specific veteran academic coaching to ensure no student veteran is left behind.

Additionally, it will ensure that the university can provide services like the Veterans Impact Program, career support and social events that make the challenging transition to university life easier.

With the new student success building — which includes dedicated space for the Veterans Success Center — set to open in 2027, the university’s commitment to its student veterans continues to grow. Donations like this provide the bedrock of long-term progress.

“UT continues to be the beacon of support for our military connected community,” Cruise said. “This donation will continue that growth and provide new opportunities.”

The Grubbs will also get to see their donation in action. The goal is to have multiple meetings between the family and recipients of the donation, allowing the chance to form a beneficial relationship and share their success, according to Cruise.

This gift doesn’t just represent a way to support student veterans in the short term. It helps build a stronger and more inclusive community here on campus that every student could benefit from — one that values the perspectives of student veterans.

“I think people on campus need to be more aware that the people in their classes might not be the same age as them, or have the same experiences,” Ho said. “Becoming friends with those veterans could be a great way for people to learn a thing or two.”

The Grubb family expressed their wish that the donation would help veterans — those who have sacrificed for the country — achieve more than they dreamed possible.

“What the Grubbs have done for the university really underscored the Volunteer spirit,” Ho said. “It’s nothing short of the very embodiment of being a Vol.”