Honors Student-Veteran Goes From Service to Service

Leaving family and friends behind to attend university can be nerve-wracking for any student. The adjustment for non-traditional students like veterans can pose a special challenge. Many will leave behind a close-knit group of friends that feel like family, to enter an environment where their life experiences differ from their peers. 

That could have been the case for College of Charleston student veteran Mark Harde. He served in the U.S. Navy as diver, working on (and under) aircraft carriers in San Diego and on deployment in Bahrain, before embarking on a college career. 

When he moved across the country and enrolled at the College of Charleston in the spring of 2023, he immediately took advantage of the resources offered by Veteran and Military Student Services, greatly easing the transition from military to campus life. 

“The College of Charleston has taken me in with open arms,” said Harde, a junior double-majoring in supply chain management and economics at the School of Business. “I realized there would be a community here, and that was very important to me.” 

CofC is recognized as one of the best colleges for veterans in the South by U.S. News and World Report and was praised by the South Carolina Department of Veteran’s Affairs for its ability to guide new veteran/military-affiliated students to campus resources, through college processes and during their transition to campus.

Working with veteran peer advisors from Veteran and Military Student Services, Harde found information, support and encouragement. He joined clubs, started volunteering and even found an on-campus job.  

Most importantly, he made friends and felt welcomed.

“This school has been great,” he says, “especially the Honors College.”

Harde is currently the only veteran student in the Honors College – something he’s working to change.

“I tell all of my friends to look into it,” says Harde, who has embraced the Honors College philosophy of getting the most out of the CofC experience, and serves in several leadership roles, such as the alumni coordinator for Phi Chi Theta, a national professional business fraternity and for the Student Ports Club. 

Harde’s diverse interests also include gardening and conservation work, leading to volunteering with the Charleston Parks Conservancy. He can often be found in Wragg Square and Marion Square, helping maintain the parks for the benefit of the entire community.  

As Harde approaches graduation in 2027 and keeps his options open for future professional pursuits, including the possibility of working abroad (“I feel like I should stay on the same path, and go wherever the world takes me”), he’s also using his time in college to expand his horizons. He hopes other veterans will do the same.  

“College is a great option for veterans,” he says.

Peer advisor Caleb Hallman, a senior majoring in computing in the arts, agrees.

“Veterans make great students because we are all used to, and maybe even rely on, a sense of structure,” he says. “We are also more likely to speak up or speak our minds, as well as ask for help when needed. We understand that we are here to get an education, and we need to make the most of it.” 

Hallman and other peer advisors in Veteran and Military Student Services play a crucial role in helping student veterans connect the dots, including managing their time and getting involved in student activities.  

“The College offers a wide variety of resources to veterans, many of whom are trying to re-acclimate civilian life,” says Hallman, noting the financial, educational and mental health resources available at the College. “We also have a staff of great people who can help with any questions a veteran might have, which includes veterans affairs health care and benefits.”

Veteran and Military Student Services provides a one-stop shop for the College of Charleston’s approximately 265 student veterans, who can start their college journey by applying for admission and educational benefits, if eligible. Visit the office’s website for more information.