MTSU student veterans overcome challenges to reach spring ’25 graduation plateau

Middle Tennessee State University graduating senior veterans, including Military Science ROTC members who will be commissioned as U.S. Army second lieutenants, join Middle Tennessee State University Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center staff attend the Graduating Senior Stole Ceremony for spring 2025 Thursday, May 8, in the Miller Education Center. Nearly 100 students will graduate in ceremonies Friday and Saturday, May 9-10, in Murphy Center. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Chuck Bolding of McMinnville and Rashieq Cockerham of Murfreesboro were two of nearly 60 student veterans attending the Middle Tennessee State University Graduating Veterans Stole CeremonyThursday, May 8.

Officials with the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center surprised them with special recognition for their hard work in their MTSU academic careers after serving their country — Bolding earning the Journey Award and Cockerham the Veteran Leadership Award during the ceremony at the Miller Education Center on Bell Street.

Zandra Pickett, center,a Middle Tennessee State university graduating senior, receives a red stole from Keith M. Huber, right, senior advisor for veterans and leadership initiatives, and Khalilah Doss, vice president of Student Affairs, Thursday, May 8, during the 30th Graduating Veteran Stole Ceremony at the Miller Education Center’s second-floor atrium. Nearly 60 students, who will graduate on Friday and Saturday, May 9-10, in ceremonies in Murphy Center, attended the ceremony. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt) — **Zandra Pickett, center**,a Middle Tennessee State university graduating senior, receives a red stole from Keith M. Huber, right, senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives, and Khalilah Doss, vice president of Student Affairs, Thursday, May 8, during the 30th Graduating Veteran Stole Ceremony at the Miller Education Center’s second-floor atrium. Nearly 60 students, who will graduate on Friday and Saturday, May 9-10, in ceremonies in Murphy Center, attended the ceremony. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

Nearly 100 student veterans will graduate from MTSU with their degrees Friday and Saturday, May 9-10, in commencement ceremonies in Murphy Center.

Hosted by the Daniels Center, it marked the 30thstole ceremony — a tradition for the Daniels Center. Graduating veterans receive special red stoles — a symbol of their military service — to wear at commencement.

Keith M. Huber, MTSU senior adviser for veterans and leadership initiatives — Keith M. Huber

“Our Stole Ceremony tradition is now in its 10^th year,” said Keith M. Huber, MTSU senior advisor for veterans and leadership initiatives and a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general who led the ceremony. “A decade of recognition and respect for the often confusing and always challenging path of transition from military service to reintegration into the communities we protected while in uniform.

“This serves as a public opportunity to demonstrate our appreciation for all those families, friends and community leaders who guided and supported us during this transition. This incredible university has provided the conditions for our success and provided a path ahead for our future sense of purpose.”

Journey Award recipient Chuck Bolding, right, of McMinnville, Tenn., a Middle Tennessee State University graduating senior veteran, receives a hug from an admirer during the 30th Graduating Veterans Stole Ceremony Thursday, May 8, at the Miller Education Center on Bell Street in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt) — Journey Award recipient Chuck Bolding, right, of McMinnville, Tenn., a Middle Tennessee State University graduating senior veteran, receives a hug from University Studies lecturer Pam Elliott, also a veteran, during the 30th Graduating Veterans Stole Ceremony Thursday, May 8, at the Miller Education Center on Bell Street in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

Bolding’s journey

A Honolulu, Hawaii, native, and Long Beach, California, transplant, retired U.S. Army Sgt. 1^st Class Bolding, 52, had to overcome another type of transplant — bone marrow — and other health issues on his path to graduating summa cum laude with a 3.9 GPA majoring in integrated studies with an emphasis in education and leadership.

MTSU Stole Ceremony Journey Award recipient Chuck Bolding — Chuck Bolding

“I adapted to college life without too much difficulty,” said Bolding, who admitted to “hating school growing up. … My first semester, I decided to get A’s. I knew I had to work to make that happen.“… I owe a great deal of thanks to the Daniels Center. Without them, I’m unsure if I would have been able to be as successful as I have been. Dr. (Hilary) Miller and her team created an environment where my fellow veterans and myself can study, get assistance processing our G.I. Bill paperwork, disability claims, receive mental health counseling or just hang out.”

Bolding received a variety of medals and badges for his service, which included serving in Bosnia during a NATO mission and Operation Iraqi Freedom when that conflict began in March 2003.

When not attending MTSU classes MTSU, he said he is a stay-at-home father and husband.

Rashieq Cockerham, left, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., a Middle Tennessee State University graduating senior, receives the Veterans Leadership Award from Laurie Witherow, MTSU vice provost for Enrollment Management, Thursday, May 8, during the Graduating Veterans Stole Ceremony at the Miller Education Center on Bell Street in Murfreesboro, Tenn. A former Marine, Cockerham has been heavily involved in undergraduate research while at MTSU. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

Cockerham’s research passion

Cockerham, 29, who served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps (rank of corporal) and will return to the Marines after graduation, graduates with a near 3.7 GPA. At MTSU, the biology (with a physiology focus) major with minors in the sciences (chemistry emphasis), Spanish and honors immersed himself in research.

Rashieq Cocklerham, spring 2025 Stole Ceremony Veteran Leadership Award winner — Rashieq Cockerham

With chemistry professor and mentor Paul Kline, Cockerham’s research “emphasized sustainable approaches to cannabis polysaccharide extraction and utilization involving extensive lab work.” It will be published in the Honors College’s “Scientia et Humanitas” and an associated article received the Dean’s Distinguished Essay Award.

This semester, he participated at five conferences.

“Life at MTSU has been amazing,” Cockerham said. “I arrived as a nontraditional student and quickly found an on-campus community that supported both my academic and personal growth. The support I received from faculty, the Honors College, the Daniels Center and my peers made this journey incredibly meaningful and rewarding.”

Cockerham “still wrestles with imposter syndrome” (self-doubt), but “mentorship, a supportive academic community and wife” helped him overcome obstacles.

He has been extremely involved with campus organizations — chemistry, research, Honors and more — and wrapping up a Chemistry Department learning assistant, Honors College ambassador and Office of Research and Sponsored Programs student worker.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)