The Student Veterans Organization at USFSP held a “Bash and Splash” event on April 23, where students could partake in water balloon battles, a dunk tank, and many other aquatic activities.
Photo by Irena Mesa | The Crow’s Nest
By Irena Mesa and Secilia Ruiz
At its core, the Office of Veteran Success and the Student Veteran Organization at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg operate to assist veterans or anyone else who is connected to the military with whatever they may need.
For the students and veterans who work in or frequent their office, it means much more than that. Julian Guillermo, a veteran, student and team leader of the Student Veteran Organization, said that the experience has been a breath of fresh air.
“Coming fresh out of the military, trying to accommodate back to civilian life was very difficult for me. But now that I’m here, I get to be comfortable in trying to find myself again,” Guillermo said. “It’s been a fun journey.”
For others, like Shaynee Zigan, vice president of the Student Veterans Organization, the office helped her feel more connected to the military life.
“I am a dependent, and I grew up on a military base my whole life, so once my dad retired and we stepped into the normal world outside of the enclosed, safe base, it was a change, but then I got used to it and it felt like I was losing that military side because we weren’t around it anymore,” Zigan said. “Now that I’m back here, working in the Veteran’s Office and I’m a part of the Student Veterans Club, I feel like it has brought me back and made me remember how it was when I was younger.”
According to Elena Mere, a senior business analytics and information systems major who is also both a student-worker at the Office of Veteran Success and the president of the Student Veteran Organization, having an office specifically for veterans’ aids in supporting community culture and identity.
“There’s a lot of very intelligent, talented veterans coming in, and it’s important that they have a space to chill out, study, just do what they need to do… For some of these veterans coming in, they have families, they’re older, so it’s important that they have a space that specializes for their needs,” Mere said.
Anabelle Mack, a freshman biology major and member of the social media and marketing team at the Veteran’s Success Center, echoed a similar sentiment.
“[A significant part of the Veteran’s Success Center is] to be able to go out and help people who have family in the military or were a part of the military and help them get the benefits they need to succeed in their education,” Mack said.
Zigan told The Crow’s Nest that their doors are open for anyone, not just veterans and families of the military.
“People see us at events and they’re like, ‘Oh it’s the military – the veteran’s office,’ and keep pushing. We want people to know that we’re not scary,” Zigan said. “We’re here, we’re just like you – and come hang out. We’re here to help you in any way that you need.”
The Office of Veteran’s Success at the St. Petersburg campus serves over 600 students. They offer therapy sessions in a partnership with the Wellness Center for veterans and student veterans, and a separate session for military dependents.
In 2027, the Office of Veteran Success will be relocated to a new facility located behind Pelican Apartments. The building will increase the services for students and veterans, as well as provide new ones such as labs dedicated to student-veteran research.
Mere said the Veteran’s Success Center was due for an upgrade.
“We had a space over in the terrace that had gotten messed up by the hurricane, and we’ve had to relocate into a smaller suite. Dr. Diaz actually gave up his office for us, which is very kind, but I think the new building is just going to be a breath of fresh air for our veterans, and it’s just going to make them feel at home in their studies,” Mere said.
“Now we’re in the Student Life Center, which has made us sort of hidden because our office is sort of stuck in the corner,” Mack said, “So I hope that with this new building opening up, we’ll be able to see a lot more people and get to help a lot more.”
A special water balloon and water gun zone were set up at Bash and Splash for students to battle it out.
Photo by Irena Mesa | The Crow’s Nest
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Written by: Irena Mesa on April 28, 2026.
Last revised by: Julia Ferrara