'Don't Be Afraid to Fail'

Frank Thomas Vizza Jr., 43, could not help feeling like he had more to give.

"I knew I could be doing more for my community, my country and myself. I was meant to do more," he insisted. "So, I joined the Navy."

After serving as a corpsman from 2013 to 2017, Vizza found himself at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). His GI Bill educational benefits were about to run out when his boss at the UNLV Military and Veteran Services Center told Vizza about the VFW's "Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship."

"To those who made this scholarship possible," Vizza said, "you've made my dreams a reality. Because of you, I'll graduate with a master's degree in social work, and I'll have several options going forward."

Vizza plans to use his degree to help veterans and active-duty personnel manage their stress and face service-related issues. Eventually, he hopes to become a resiliency counselor for the Navy.

Wherever his path leads, Vizza knows his degree will be valuable. He urges others to pursue an education, too.

"I've met veterans from all walks of life and of all ages who are getting their degree because it's tough out there. Having a degree or license will only help you. Don't be afraid to fail - be afraid to not try," Vizza said.

He hopes that every veteran can find a school community as supportive as his.

"Rebel Vets, UNLV's veterans club, has been like a second family to me," Vizza said. "Through working with them and the school's veterans center, I've gotten new insights that have prepared me to work with veterans in the future.

"UNLV has been amazing. I'm eternally grateful that I came here. I can't stress this enough - everyone should get an education."

Learn more about the VFW's "Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship."