To those who currently serve or have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, your patriotism is to be recognized, appreciated, and honored.

Veterans Day is a special day dedicated to paying tribute to those from our University, our hometowns, our neighborhoods – including family and friends – who have dedicated themselves to our country in ways that benefit all of us. Professor of History Bob Kodosky, who is pictured (in the purple jacket) with his students at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., often says, “Hearing the stories of our veterans and actively listening to their experiences is important; it goes beyond expressing thanks for their service.”

West Chester University has a long-standing commitment to our military students and their stories. You might be interested to know that our program has once again been awarded gold-level military-friendly status for commitment to student veterans in the 2023-24 academic year. Today, we celebrated our ROTC Cadets and student veterans at the Military Scholarship Ceremony held at the WCU Foundation.

I’m proud of the support we offer our student veterans, military service members, reservists, and their families. Between the University, WCU Foundation, and WCU Alumni Association, we will be sure to continue to serve this population of students; they deserve nothing less after everything they have given us.

President Christopher M. Fiorentino

Philip Pinti is a former Marine and a West Chester University alumnus who graduated in 2005 with a degree in criminal justice. During his time at WCU, he was a member of the rugby team and had a passion for athletics.

He also met his wife at WCU, Jennifer Rosenthal '05. They married and had two children. Phil faced the unimaginable loss of Jenn to stage-4 lung cancer at just 33 years old. Left to raise their two young children on his own, Phil turned to ultra-marathon running to cope with his grief.

The documentary A Long Way From Nowhere allows us to witness the incredible physical and emotional journey of the WCU alum as he participates in the grueling 150-mile Desert RATS Stage Race through the Colorado desert. Despite the intense heat, rugged terrain, and daunting distance, Phil perseveres through his own physical and emotional challenges, demonstrating an inspiring level of determination, resilience, and strength.

Throughout the documentary, Phil reflects on the role that running has played in his healing process, both physically and emotionally. Running has become a way for him to cope with his grief, connect with others, and find a sense of purpose and strength. Phil's journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of endurance athletics. His story is a reminder of the strength and grit that are hallmarks of service members.

He continues to run and share his story. Just last month he ran the Marine Corps Marathon in D.C. You can find A Long Way From Nowhere here.