AmandaWoods, Military and Veterans Services officer and Veterans Administrationcertifying official with Southeast Missouri State Universitys Office of Military and Veterans Services (OMVS), was recentlyawarded the prestigious Employer Support for Guard and Reserve (ESGR) PatriotAward.

TheESGR Patriot Award honors individuals for their support of service members andhis or her family. The Patriot Award reflects the efforts of individuals tosupport citizen warriors through a wide-range of measures including flexibleschedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families, andgranting leaves of absence if needed.

Woods was nominated bySoutheast senior and Missouri Army National Guardsman Michelle Lang.

I was truly surprised to receive this award, Woods said. Knowing that Ive positively impacted peoples lives and helped them achieve their goals is really what matters to me, but Im truly honored to have been nominated at all and humbled to have been awarded such an accolade.

Lang, a native of thePhilippines, is a sergeant in the Missouri Army National Guard, where she hasserved for four years. She is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in biology,pre-physician assistant option, at Southeast, and is a student employee in SoutheastsOMVS.

 I decided to nominate her because shedeserves it more than anyone I know. I dont think I only speak for myself whenI say she is the best boss Ive ever worked with, Lang said. Shes made themilitary office a safe haven and a great resource for all military members. Sheis the face of the Office of Military and Veterans Services.

Lang said she nominated Woodsfor her compassion for and consideration of those she serves.

If a National Guard memberis abruptly activated or sent orders to serve, not only does she drop whatshes doing and make sure the paperwork is squared away with the University, butshe also reaches out to the soldier to make sure they have everything they needas well, Lang said.

Lang and Woods work tosupport veterans and military-affiliated students navigate University andexternal processes, provide referrals for healthcare and employment, offertutorial resources and assist with military to school transitions, Woods said

 We provide a network of support for all ofour military-affiliated student population so that they can be successful intheir personal and academic endeavors, she said. Really, whatever ourpopulation needs, Im going to try to get that for them.

Woods, whose family andhusband have a history of military service and who is a 2007 Southeast graduate,said she is passionate and dedicated to supporting Southeast and localcommunity service members and veterans, and she is proud of the work the OMVSaccomplishes.

My favorite part of workingin the OMVS, aside from seeing people excel and achieve their goals, is seeingpeople from different walks of life foster relationships from simplyfrequenting the center. Veterans are doing what they did in service - supportingone another, she said. If the office wasnt here, I doubt the relationshipsand networks of support would thrive. Thats why its so important to have thiscenter here at Southeast, and thats why I work so hard to make sure ourpopulation has what it needs to succeed.

Lang is proud to have had theopportunity to present her mentor with the Patriot Award.

She is my supervisor, my role model, my greatest influence and my friend, Lang said. She has made a huge impact on my life, and she doesnt even know it! Without her, I dont think I would be able to say Im in my last semester of college.