Alabama A&M University honored the service of U.S. military veterans Friday. Lieutenant Colonel Lawanna Harvey, Ph.D. presented the keynote address at the annual AAMU Veterans Day program. Functional Lead for Supply Management for the U.S. Army Material Command, Harvey is a graduate of Alabama A&M who was originally drawn to The Hill from St. Louis, Missouri through competitive swimming.
With a goal of qualifying for the 1996 Olympics, Harvey came to AAMU with a singular mission of being the very best in her sport. A scholarship student-athlete on the AAMU swim team, she competed for two years until the program was discontinued due to a lack of funding. Given the option of transferring to continue to pursue Olympic dreams or staying on track academically at AAMU, Harvey remained in Normal, AL.
“I came up with a plan,” Harvey said. “I said if it takes five jobs, I’m not going back to St. Louis. I’m going to pay my tuition, and I’m going to make it. I’m not going back home without a degree.”
Influenced by a roommate who was part of the Air Force Reserve, Harvey signed up and leveraged the opportunity to complete her studies and launch an extensive military career. Six years of active-duty service has taken her around the globe including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“I hope I have done Alabama A&M proud,” she said. “I encourage you to start with a goal. Decide what you want to do and go after it. The military has been very beneficial to me and my family. It opened doors for me that would’ve been more difficult for me to enter.”
The event also featured distinguished guest speaker the Honorable Christopher T. Hanson, Chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
