The National Veterans Leadership Foundation in conjunction with the Inter-University Council of Ohio recently recognized Bowling Green State University and The University of Toledo for their annual Ruck the Ball initiative to raise awareness of veteran suicide.
BGSU and UToledo jointly accepted an Excellence in Programming Award, presented by Chancellor Mike Duffey of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, during the Inter-University Council of Ohio’s second Military Connected Student Symposium at the Ohio Statehouse on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
The National Veterans Leadership Foundation in conjunction with the Inter-University Council of Ohio recently recognized the schools jointly with an Excellence in Programming Award.
The Ruck the Ball initiative has preceded the annual Battle of I-75 football game between the Rockets and the Falcons since 2023. Student Veterans of America chapters at BGSU and UToledo come together to organize a more than 22-mile public ruck march from one campus to the other to deliver a game ball replica to the hosting stadium, with the planning committee last year adding stops at local veteran and mental health support service organizations along the route to educate ruckers about available resources.
The march aims to bring attention to a concerning suicide rate among veterans, with its message amplified by coverage in local media.
“Ruck the Ball is student-initiated and student-led,” said Eric Buetikofer, director of military and veteran affairs at UToledo. “We’re proud of the way that our military connected students across both campuses have come together for a common cause and of the critical attention that they’ve brought to the issue of veteran suicide.”
BGSU and UToledo were among several institutions recognized during the Military Connected Student Symposium. Ashland University, Columbus State Community College, John Carroll University, Kent State University, Marion Technical College, Wright State University and Xavier University also received Excellence in Programming Awards.
