ASU President Michael Crow will receive the 2013 Copper Sword award – the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society's highest award – for his support of veterans through his leadership, actions and advocacy.

The award will be presented on Feb. 13 during the 2013 Copper Sword and Copper Shield Award Gala at Tempe Mission Palms Hotel in Tempe. Download Full Image

This year’s Copper Shield award will be presented to Heather Carter, clinical associate professor in ASU's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College and Arizona State Representative, R-Cave Creek and North Phoenix, who has acted to help the state's veterans, military service members, their families and survivors.

“It’s important to honor veterans’ service to their country with programs and services such as those we’ve instilled at ASU," Crow said. "We work to ensure that our returning servicemen and women have access to services that ease the transition into the civilian and academic environment.”

ASU serves veterans through venues such as the Pat Tillman Veterans Center that opened in 2011 to provide a single point of contact for ASU veterans and their dependents, bringing together academic and student support services to promote a smooth transition from the military and provide assistance for veterans’ benefits, deployments, information and referrals. It also serves as a place where veterans can gather to study and socialize.

In addition, ASU was named a “Military Friendly School for 2013” by GI jobs magazine – the fourth consecutive year the university has earned the honor.

Additionally, ASU was named one of the top 30 “Best for Vets: Colleges 2010” by Military Times Edge magazine, and the university was chosen as one of the first eight institutions to be part of the Veterans Affairs pilot program, VetSuccess on Campus.

Two Veterans Affairs staff, a vocational rehabilitation counselor and a Vet Center outreach coordinator are assigned and located on ASU’s campuses to assist veterans with services such as vocational testing, career counseling and readjustment counseling to promote successful completion of educational and employment goals.

ASU also was chosen as a University Partner for the 2012-2013 academic year in support of the Tillman Military Scholars program, which provides scholarships for active and veteran service members as well as their spouses. The Pat Tillman Foundation established the Tillman Military Scholars program in 2008 that is dedicated to supporting educational opportunities for service members and their families by filling the financial gaps in the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. The Tillman Military Scholars program covers not only direct study-related expenses such as tuition and fees, but also other needs, including housing and child care.

Carter will be recognized for initiatives such as introducing a bill in the Arizona legislature that provides for employment preference for veterans when calculating points for employment with the state, counties, cities and towns, as well as other political subdivisions in the state. She has worked on other veterans issues as well.

For more information on ASU’s programs and support services for veteran students, visit http://students.asu.edu/military. For information about the gala, go to www.avhof.org.