Jack Schannep grew up in Tucson, Arizona, inspired by his grandfather's stories about serving in the military.
"My great-grandfather, a United States Military Academy (West Point) graduate, passed away during World War ll when my grandfather was 12 years old. My grandfather's life mission was to follow in his dad's footsteps," says Schannep, who is pursuing his MBA at Arizona State University. "Seeing the camaraderie my grandfather experienced while serving the country his father died for, as well as the opportunities it brought him, was really impactful."
Schannep also followed in his family's footsteps, attending West Point and serving in the Army as an infantry officer. Since exiting in 2023, Schannep has continued to dedicate himself to the service of others by equipping veterans with the tools and resources they need to mitigate financial insecurity through his role as a third-generation financial advisor at Retirement Wealth Partners in his hometown.
"While in the Army, I fostered relationships with people experiencing situations that were very different from what I was going through, but joining together to overcome challenges was professionally and personally fulfilling," Schannep says. "Now that I'm out of the Army, leveraging those experiences to help others who are hurting is very transferable, both in service to our country and community."
In honor of his dedication to uplifting the veteran community, Schannep is one of 60 scholars recognized nationally as a 2024 Tillman Scholar. Tillman Scholars are selected based on their dedication to service in and out of uniform, lifelong learning, leadership and community impact. Since its founding 20 years ago following W. P. Carey alum Pat Tillman's death, the foundation has supported over 900 active-duty service members, veterans and military spouses pursuing higher education through academic scholarships, leadership development opportunities and access to a global community of peers and mentors.
"Being selected to be a Tillman Scholar is an honor; these scholars are doing world-changing things," Schannep says. "To be included in this cohort is a big responsibility, but I'm very proud to be a part of that community."
Schannep first determined that financial instability was a risk factor for active-duty soldiers and veterans after several soldiers in his battalion died by suicide while he was serving as a junior officer. As a safety precaution, Schannep interviewed each soldier and determined financial security as a stressor that often led to other challenges.
Since 9/11, death by suicide has affected veterans at four times the rate of combat-related deaths, and it's estimated that over 30,000 soldiers who have served in the military after 9/11 have died by suicide. Studies show financial instability negatively impacts mental health, which in turn affects sleep and emotional stability, and can cause physical symptoms like headaches, muscle aches and other serious health issues.
Schannep recognizes that pivoting from the military to higher education is often a difficult transition for veterans. The ASU Pat Tillman Veterans Center understands the challenges of adjusting to civilian life. It is dedicated to empowering veterans through a plethora of resources — from navigating Veterans Affairs educational benefits to employment assistance to health care — at all points during their academic journeys. Schannep recommends all veterans get involved with the center while adjusting to life at ASU.
"The center encourages you to leverage the experiences you gained in the military and transfer it to civilian life," he says. "There is a lot of value placed on that."
As a working professional, husband, father and full-time student, Schannep says the W. P. Carey School of Business's Executive MBA's flexible schedule — a combination of in-person intensive weekends and online classwork — was helpful for him when adjusting to academic life since students are often able to work at their own pace. As he prepares to graduate this spring, Schannep looks forward to sharing the skills he has learned at W. P. Carey with his community and clientele.
"It's exciting to collect these tools and experiences and bring them to the people and communities that haven't had the opportunity to attend W. P. Carey," Schannep says. "I'm looking forward to collecting as much information as possible to share after graduation."
Learn more about the Pat Tillman Veterans Center and how ASU Salute to Service events honor the men and women who put service above self.
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