Today’s episode is a special tribute in honor of Veterans Day. Across our campuses, military service and academic excellence walk hand in hand. In this episode, we’re proud to spotlight three extraordinary members of the PennWest family whose journeys reflect the deep connection between service and scholarship.

Their stories are powerful reminders that service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off — it continues in classrooms, communities, and careers.

Let’s meet our guests!

Dr. Mary Kreis, a Sport Management and Exercise Science professor at PennWest for 21 years, served in the U.S. Army, earning Airborne Parachutist and Air Assault badges. A Master Fitness Trainer School graduate, she competed internationally on the U.S. Armed Forces Military Pentathlon Team. Her final assignment was as a Medical Service Corps training officer in a Combat Support Hospital in Coraopolis, PA.

Timothy John is a Biology Pre-med student at PennWest Clarion, serving as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He completed boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes and corpsman training at Fort Sam Houston. A certified phlebotomist and Basic Life Support provider, he’s also PennWest Clarion’s student trustee and an undergraduate researcher, balancing military service with academic excellence and leadership.

Jake Stahl, a senior at PennWest Edinboro, majors in Business Administration with minors in Communications and Adaptive Leadership. A dedicated cadet in the Edinboro Army ROTC since freshman year, Jake exemplifies resilience and discipline. He proudly completed the grueling 26.2-mile challenge of the 36th Bataan Memorial Death March, honoring fallen heroes and demonstrating his commitment to service and leadership.