Student Spotlight: Hannibal Santiago

Caring for the Families of Fallen Special Operations Forces Since 1980

Committed to helping students reach their full potential, Special Operations Warrior Foundation holds an annual college planning conference at the University of Tampa. This year’s Operation EPIC (Educational Planning & Informational Conference) class consisted of 24 high school students from around the country.

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“I never thought I would get a chance to go to school

for something like this, but SOWF is making my

dreams become a reality. I am starting my freshman

year at Marquette University and pursuing a degree in

biomedical engineering. My dream is to use my degree to

impact the medical field.” - Hannibal

SOWF Hosts College Planning Conference

Hannibal Santiago is a recent high school graduate. His father, Sgt. Anibal Santiago lost his life in Afghanistan in 2010, while deployed with the 75th Ranger Regiment.

Margaret Oswald Maggie is one of 39 SOWF students who are starting their freshman year in college. She will be attending Purdue University.

Maggie is the daughter of Cmdr. Peter Oswald who lost his life in El Salvador in 2002, while in command of Naval Special Warfare Unit Four.

Eleven consecutive years of the highest four star rating.

2 SPECIAL OPERATIONS WARRIOR FOUNDATION

Thank You... We deeply appreciate your continued moral and financial support to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and the brave Americans we serve. Your generous donations made it possible this year for 21 students to celebrate an amazing milestone in their lives - graduating from college. Just as exciting, 39 sons and daughters of fallen Special Operations heroes will begin their freshman year at colleges across the country. Also, because of you, 37 severely wounded and hospitalized Special Operators received a financial stipend to ensure their loved ones could be bedside.

Thanks to you, our Special Operations personnel know that their sacrifices are not forgotten. Special Operators live and work in a dangerous world. This year alone, 26 warriors have lost their lives leaving behind 43 children. Earlier this year, a Special Operations soldier was killed in Afghanistan leaving behind five children ages 5,13,15,17 and 20. Another Special Operator died in October 2016 and his daughter was born five months later. When she is ready for college in 2035, our Foundation will be there to ensure she receives the college education that her fallen father would have wanted. Our freshman class joins another 131 upper classmen, for a total of 171 students in college. There are another 700 children in our programs who are not yet college age to whom we have promised a college education. Your continued support ensures that our Foundation will be there for the brave men and women of our Special Operations community. They know that when tragedy strikes – Special Operations Warrior Foundation has their backs. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of the children and families we serve.

Monthly Donations Make an Impact

Joseph Maguire Vice Admiral, USN, Ret. President/CEO

$83 a month pays for transportation fees for one college semester.

$25 a month provides three high school graduates with a printer to take to college.

$42 a month buys text books for a college semester.

$10 a month pays for supplies needed for a college semester.

If you are interested in becoming a monthly donor, please visit our website at specialops.org and set up a recurring gift via our donate button.Amounts are based on a 12 month period.

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Special Thanks...Operation EPIC was possible because of the generosity of many supporters. Dorm rooms and meals for the students were donated by the University of Tampa, and local companies support Operation EPIC through tours and presentations, including Regions Bank, Raymond James Financial, and Laser Spine Institute. Motivational speaker and former Army Ranger, Keni Thomas, spoke to the students about resiliency and decision-making.

Operation EPIC (continued from front cover) Additionally, four SOWF college graduates volunteered to guide and mentor the students. The four-day college planning conference featured acclaimed guest speakers and experts in the college admissions process. Topics included writing a college admissions essay, types of colleges, admissions interviews, importance of internships, and how to select a major.

“I learned so much in this short week. I’ve learned

about the college admissions process and how

to have a more successful future. While most

of the students had never met, they all share a

common bond of losing a parent who served in

Special Operations. Being able to meet kids like

me, and bond with them, is such a blessing.” Sydnie Lubbers

“This has been a tremendous opportunity, to not only learn skills that will help me down the life path that I want, but also to make friends that will last a life-time. While life threw us a curveball, this is a chance to grab life by the horns and make

it what we want.” Donnie Archuleta

Sydnie is the daughter of Command Sgt. Maj. William Lubbers who lost his life in 2012 while serving with the 3rd Special Forces Group. Sydnie receives a certificate of completion from Vice Adm. (ret) Joseph Maguire, President & CEO, Special Operations Warrior Foundation

Donnie is the son of 1st Lt. Tamara Archuleta who lost her life in Afghanistan in 2003, while deployed with the 41st Rescue Squadron.Donnie receives a certificate of completion from Vice Adm. (ret) Joseph Maguire, President & CEO, Special Operations Warrior Foundation

Donaciano Archuleta, University of New Mexico Son of 1st Lt. Tamara Archuleta who lost her life in Afghanistan 2003, while deployed with 41st Rescue Squadron

Holden Bearden, North Texas Central Son of Petty Officer Michael Bearden who lost his life in California in 2000, while assigned to Naval Special Warfare Group 1

Anthony Brock, Fayetteville Technical Community College Son of Master Sgt. Anthony Brock who lost his life in NC in 2010, while assigned to 7th Special Forces Group

Mitchell Cole Son of Chief Warrant Officer, Gerald Cole who lost his life in Virginia in 2016, while assigned to US Army Special Operations Command

Nicholas Cutino, Savannah Technical College Son of Lt. Col. Gaetano Cutino who lost his life in North Carolina in 1999, while assigned to US Army Special Operations Command

Sebrina Enos, California State University Daughter of Staff Sgt. Darrel Enos who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2012, while deployed with 3rd Marine Raider Battalion

Jordan Ferguson, Metropolitan State University of Denver Son of Master Sgt. Richard Ferguson who lost his life in Iraq in 2004, while deployed with 10th Special Forces Group

Forrest Haydon, University of Chicago and Carmela Haydon, McGill University Son and daughter of Capt. Joseph Haydon who lost his life in Nigeria in 2005, while assigned to US Army Special Operations Command Jaina Houston, University of Colorado Boulder Daughter of Chief Petty Officer Kevin Houston who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2011, while deployed with Naval Special Warfare Development Group

Sabrina Iijima-Steagald, University of Arizona Daughter of Tech. Sgt. Jefferson Steagald who lost his life in North Carolina in 1999, while assigned to 21st Special Tactics Squadron

Riley Kisling, Ozark Technical Community College Son of Staff Sgt. Daniel Kisling who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2003, while deployed with 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment

Kyle Klomstad, Fairmont State University Son of Sgt. 1st Class Lance Vogeler who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2010, while deployed with 75th Ranger Regiment

Peyton Fester, Purdue University Son of Maj. Gregory Fester who lost his life in Iraq in 2005, while deployed with 490th Civil Affairs Battalion

Lauren Fritz, Sonoma State University Daughter of Maj. Gregory Fritz who lost his life in Puerto Rico in 2002, while assigned to 15th Special Operations Squadron Rylie Gavulic, Auburn University Daughter of Master Sgt. Joshua Gavulic who lost his life in Arizona in 2014, while assigned to 17th Special Tactics Squadron

Lauren Gibbons, Auburn University Daughter of Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Gibbons who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2003, while deployed with 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment

Hannah Gressett, Northwest Florida State College Daughter of Tech. Sgt. David Gressett who lost his life in Florida in 2004, while assigned to 16th Special Operations Squadron Amira Gulezian Daughter of Sgt. 1st Class Mark Gulezian who lost his life in 2014, while deployed with 3rd Special Forces Group

5 SPECIAL OPERATIONS WARRIOR FOUNDATION

Meet the 2017 College FreshmanBecause of your generosity, college dreams are a reality.

(more students inside)

Lauren Russell, Texas State University Daughter of Sgt. 1st Class Michael Russell who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2005, while deployed with 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment Hannibal Santiago, Marquette University Son of Sgt. Anibal Santiago who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2010, while deployed with 75th Ranger Regiment

Taryn Speer, University of North Carolina at Wilmington Daughter of Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Speer who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2002, while deployed with US Army Special Operations Command

David Stack, Germanna Community College Son of Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Stack who lost his life in Iraq in 2004, while deployed with 5th Special Forces Group

William Stevenson, Fayetteville Technical Community College Son of Maj. Terry Stevenson who lost his life in North Carolina in 2014, while assigned to 95th Civil Affairs Brigade Samantha Tycz, Niagara University Daughter of Sgt. 1st Class Peter Tycz who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2002, while deployed with 3rd Special Forces Group Noel Vose, BAU International Berlin - University of Applied Sciences Daughter of Chief Warrant Officer Douglas Vose who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2009, while deployed with 10th Special Forces Group

Octavia Osborne, Johnson and Wales University Daughter of Staff Sgt. Mark de Alencar who lost his life Afghanistan in 2017, while deployed with 7th Special Forces Group Margaret Oswald, Purdue University Daughter of Cmdr. Peter Oswald who lost his life in El Salvador in 2002, while in command of Naval Special Warfare Unit Four

Lauren Owens, Lipscomb University Daughter of Capt. Barth Owens who lost his life in the Philippines in 2002, while deployed with 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment

Summer Padgett, Auburn University Daughter of Sgt. Timothy Padgett who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2007, while deployed with 7th Special Forces Group

Lorenz Parayno, South Western College Son of Chief Petty Officer Florencio Parayno who lost his life in California in 2013, while assigned to Naval Special Warfare Center

Elizabeth Ponder, Auburn University Daughter of Master Sgt. James “Trey” Ponder who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2005, while deployed with 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment

Tristyn Redd, Texas A&M Son of Chief Warrant Officer Steven Redd who lost his life in Georgia in 2011, while assigned to 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment

Kassandra Kocan, Appalachian State Daughter of Lt. Col. Keith Kocan who lost his life in Florida in 2006, while assigned to US Special Operations Command

Michelle Lane, Texas A&M Daughter of Sgt. 1st Class Mitchell Lane who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2003, while deployed with 3rd Special Forces Group

Cole Lilley, California University of Pennylsvania Son of Master Sgt. Arthur Lilley who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2007, while deployed with 7th Special Forces Group

Gabriel Lindenau, Central Washington University Son of Maj. Robert Lindenau who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2008, while deployed with 95th Civil Affairs Brigade

Alison Loftis, University of North Carolina at Wilmington Daughter of Lt. Col. John Loftis who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2012, while deployed with 866th Air Expeditionary Squadron

Dylan McClure, University of Maryland Son of Master Sgt. Sean McClure who lost his life in Alabama in 2015, while assigned to 7th Special Forces Group Connor Odell, University of California, Davis Son of Sgt. Major Robert Odell who lost his life in Iraq in 2004, while deployed with US Army Special Operations Command

4 SPECIAL OPERATIONS WARRIOR FOUNDATION

2017 SOWF College Freshmen

Special Operations Warrior FoundationPO Box 89367Tampa, FL 33689Phone: 813-805-9400Email: warrior@specialops.orgwww.specialops.org

What’s Inside:

• Graduate Spotlight: Hannibal Santiago

• Message From Our CEO

• 2017 SOWF College Freshman

• Monthly Donations Impact

• Operation EPIC

“Thank you so much for your support of SOWF. Because of your generosity, my siblings and I now have the opportunity to go to college and be successful in ways we could not have otherwise dreamed of.” Conner Odell Attending University of California, Davis