APU Opens New Military and Veterans Center | Azusa Pacific
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Setting the Gold Standard: APU Opens New Military Center Focused on Veteran Purpose
and Success
April 15, 2026 | Category Transfer, Alumni, Military Education
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From left to right: Rio Martinez, Brent Theobald, Steve Perry, Susie Perry, Adam Morris,
Faith Morris, Lucie Moore, and Leaum Pettigrew.
Azusa Pacific University, a national leader in military and veterans education and
success, celebrated the opening of its new
Military and Veterans Center
(MVC) on April 14. The festivities included a color guard posting of the flags by
APU ROTC; a performance of the national anthem by APU music students; a Scripture
reading and prayer by Rio J. Martinez, military and veteran coach; remarks from
Adam J. Morris
, PhD, APU president; Steve Perry, APU trustee;
Brent Theobald
, MVC executive director; Audrey Ramirez, president of APU’s Veterans Club; and Leaum
Pettigrew, veteran and cadet battalion commander for the Golden Lions Battalion; and
a prayer of dedication by Lucie Moore, JD,
APU Board of Trustees
chair. The ribbon cutting followed to commemorate the center’s official opening.
The event drew a distinguished group of leaders from local businesses, community organizations,
school districts, and vital civic groups. Esteemed guests included Azusa Mayor Edward
Alavarez, Glendora Mayor David Frendendall, Mayor Pro Tem Michael Allawos, City Councilwoman
Karen Davis, and representatives for California State Senator Susan Rubio ’01, MAEd
’04,  California State Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio ’99, MA ’03, and LA County Supervisor
Kathryn Barger.
A New Home Base for Veteran Success
“APU has supported our veteran and military-connected students well for years, but
we’re taking it to a whole new level,” Theobald said. “This new center, made possible
by the largest gift in university history, will be a consolidated, one-stop location
for all resources—academic, career, counseling, everything—for veteran and military-connected
members of our community. Essentially, the center is a home base not only for creating
community, but for veterans and military students to discover their next mission in
leadership and service.”
Inside the $3.4 Million Facility on East Campus
Located on APU’s East Campus, the new $3.4 million, 3,900 sq. ft. facility includes
six offices, a conference room, a training room, a lounge and study space, a kitchenette,
restrooms, and an outdoor patio space for general use and special events. This space
is home to five staff members to support veteran and military-connected students.
“Today, we gather not just to open the doors of a new facility, but to dedicate a
special place of support and connection for those early in their military career,
those on active duty, veterans who have contributed and sacrificed so much for our
nation, and all the families who join these brave men and women in answering the call
to such meaningful service,” Morris said.
This is not just a collection of offices; it is a place of security, respect, and
deep community. Within these walls, our students will find support that honors their
extensive experience and guides them toward their higher calling.
Adam J. Morris, PhD
Four Strategic Objectives for Military Students
The Military and Veterans Center has four strategic objectives: helping veterans and
military-connected students define their next mission—academically, personally, professionally,
and spiritually; serving as a trusted guide that removes barriers, maximizes benefits,
and provides clear direction from first inquiry through graduation and beyond; building
a committed community so that no APU student who serves in a family unit will navigate
this chapter alone; and providing a home base that offers stability, belonging, and
forward momentum as students transition from military service to their next season
of calibrated leadership.
“This isn’t just a place that supports veterans—it brings people together across branches,
generations, and experiences, including dependents. Here, people don’t just transition—they
belong,” Ramirez said. “As a student leader, I’ve seen how spaces like this shape
lives academically, professionally, and personally. This is where community is built,
leadership grows, and the next chapter begins.”
A Top 10 Military Friendly® School
APU was recently recognized with the 2026-2027
Military Friendly® School designation
with Top 10 status, ranking No. 4 of all Tier 2 Research Institutions nationwide,
for offering comprehensive services and support to
veteran and military-connected students
. The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research
using public data sources from more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student
veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools
survey from participating institutions.
APU is home to more than 400 veteran and military-connected students, who can use
their GI Bill® military education benefits to earn their degrees from a top-ranked
university. APU’s
services for military-connected students
provide a network of support to ensure a smooth transition from military to civilian
life and help students maximize their
military education benefits
. APU, including all
regional campus locations
, fully complies with Executive Order 13607 establishing
Principles of Excellence
for educational institutions serving servicemembers, veterans, spouses, and other
family members.
Since 1899, Azusa Pacific University, a top Christian higher education institution
in the nation, has helped students discover their higher calling to impact the world
for Christ. Featuring world-class faculty, an APU education leads to lifelong transformation
and eternal impact. APU offers
59
bachelor’s degrees
, 34
master’s degrees
, 35
certificates and credentials
, and 7
doctoral programs
to more than 7,000 students at the university’s
main campus in Azusa
several regional locations across Southern California
, and
online
Learn more at
apu.edu
Apply to APU, California’s Top Ranked Christian University
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The APU Military and Veterans Center is a $3.4 million, 3,900 sq. ft. facility that
provides a consolidated, one-stop location for academic, career, and counseling resources
for veteran and military-connected students.
Yes, APU is recognized as a Top 10 Military Friendly® School, ranking No. 4 among
Tier 2 Research Institutions nationwide for its comprehensive support of military-connected
students.
The center is located on APU’s East Campus in Azusa, California, and features offices,
a conference room, a training room, a lounge, and an outdoor patio space.