Valor Scholar Stories: Anna Atkinson
“I’ve always seen myself going into a career that would help people.”
That’s Anna Atkinson, a sophomore Valor Scholar at South Dakota State University. Anna is studying human development and family science and planning a career in social work. She is also the ex-officio for the Armed Forces Association at SDSU, serves on the student senate, and works in the VA office on campus.
Both of Anna’s parents served in the army, her father as a medic and her mother as a police officer. Her mother received a Purple Heart and now serves as the Coordinator of Veterans Affairs at SDSU, and both of her parents are 100% disabled veterans. Many of her extended family members have served in the military as well, and this connection has fueled Anna in her goals to impact others in the future.
Stepping Into the Gap
Anna’s past, present, and goals for the future share one common theme: helping people in need. Growing up in a military family, she’s experienced the value of service firsthand. “I’ve always grown up with a mindset of giving back,” Anna said. “My dad is still in nursing, my sisters are in nursing, and I’ve done a lot of volunteering with my mom. It’s always been a part of our family.”
Anna still volunteers with her mom as part of the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization her mom benefited from herself after her service. “I really enjoy being part of that community,” Anna says. “And it’s also been helpful as I’ve been figuring out my own path.”
That path has led her to pursue a career of service to others. After graduation, she plans on pursuing a masters degree in Social Work, and then starting a career as a social worker in a nursing home or hospice. Through some impactful job shadowing experiences, she’s seen firsthand how impactful a social worker can be. “It’s like being a liaison between the residents and their families, the nursing team, and all the other resources they might need,” she said.
Anna’s experience as a Valor Scholar and a child of parents who served has informed what kind of social worker she wants to be. “A lot of my job is helping people learn what resources are available,” she said. “That’s part of why I love the idea of social work—there are so many resources out there, and so many people just don’t know. I want to get to know people and their situations and help them see the help that’s available to them.”
Supported by a Community
The impact of Anna’s Valor Scholarship stretches beyond just finances. “Financial support is great, and the scholarship helps me toward my goal of not accumulating a ton of debt,” she said. “But it also helps me focus on things that are important to me—studying, participating in my student group, and giving back.”
Being a Valor Scholar has also helped her feel part of a community. Living as a child of two disabled military veterans brings unique challenges that impact the whole family, and children who are part of military families but don’t serve themselves can feel caught between two worlds. “It makes you feel like the odd one out sometimes,” Anna said. “I don’t have military experience, but I’m still impacted by it, so it can be hard to fit perfectly in either world.”
“This scholarship shows that they see you.”
So many students across the country share Anna’s experience. At Valor Partners, we’re grateful to help students like her feel seen in their experience as part of military families. We honor her parents’ service, and we’re happy to be part of the future impact Anna will make on others through what she’s learning at SDSU.
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