The Arkansas Tech University chapter of Service Members and Veterans of America (SMVA) welcomed Col. Joy Leapheart and Arkansas District 68 Rep. Trevor Drown as guest speakers for its meeting at Baswell Techionery on Thursday, Oct. 8.
Leapheart is retired from a more than 26-year career in the U.S. Army. She currently serves as president for the Military Officers Association of America.
Drown is a 2001 graduate of Arkansas Tech. He served in Afghanistan as a Green Beret and is continuing his military service with the Army National Guard. He was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2014.
During his remarks, Drown recognized Arkansas Tech student Vance Morris.
A senior emergency management student from Little Rock, Morris was selected to visit Washington, D.C., and represent the concerns of veterans from Arkansas on issues such as renewable fuels, the exporting of crude oil and how those topics influence national security.
Morris serves as president of Arkansas Tech SMVA. Other officers for the student organization include Corey Edwards, vice president; Ashlynn Hill, secretary; Amanda Davis, treasurer; and Sean Coyle, public affairs officer. Jamie Earls and Jordan Denton serve as advisors for the organization.
