Zhiling Lin

The Office of Veterans & Military Programs (VAMP) at UConn is pleased to recognize Zhiling Lin as UConn’s Student Veteran of the Month.  Zhiling Lin is a cadet in the Air Force ROTC Program at UConn. Within Air Force ROTC, Zhiling is active in UConn’s Arnold Air Society, ensuring proper protocol is followed for our regional conclave where hundreds of cadets from across New England gather to select the next regional headquarters. Last year, Zhiling oversaw an event that brought together over 100 students and cadets from four states. She currently serves as the Color Guard Officer for the Cloutier Rifles Precision Drill Team, training cadets in color guard procedures and leading performances at UConn sporting events. She shares that she has personally participated in more than 15 color guard events, representing both UConn and the Air Force with pride. Beyond campus, Zhiling has helped regenerate the Flying Yankee Chapter of the Air & Space Forces Association and currently serves as its Executive Vice President, working with regional and national leaders to strengthen the military–civilian bond through service projects. Recently, Zhiling led the UConn’s POW/MIA Remembrance Event, a 24-hour service run where participants carried the POW/MIA flag to honor those who never returned home. The event brought together 138 participants, including six marathon runners, and showcased the incredible energy and dedication of the UConn community.

Currently a junior, majoring in Mathematics – Actuarial Science, Zhiling’s primary goal is to graduate from UConn and commission as a U.S. Air Force officer, with the dream of becoming either a C-17 cargo pilot (11MX) or an Intelligence Officer (14N). Academically, Zhiling aims to deepen her knowledge, form close relationships with others, and, above all, fly. To support this dream, she has been awarded two Air Force ROTC scholarships for flight training, which have allowed her to log 21 flight hours toward earning her private pilot license. Zhiling plans to commission as Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force in Spring 2027.

Zhiling values UConn’s welcoming environment, which fosters a strong sense of community and support as she pursues both academic and military goals. Advice Zhiling shares with fellow students is that “cognitive growth is not about sudden inspiration, it comes from consistent, deliberate practice. First, seek out high-quality information and challenge yourself to break free from information bubbles so you can reflect deeply. Second, force yourself to share what you learn through conversation or writing, because explaining ideas exposes gaps in understanding and sharpens thinking. Finally, create personal rituals for reflection, such as setting monthly topics for self-evaluation, to build steady progress over time. The goal of cognitive improvement is not to be superior to others, but to take fewer detours, avoid manipulation, and live with purpose. With steady input, thoughtful output, and intentional habits, you can achieve success in any career path.”

If you would like to nominate a student, faculty, or staff member for “Veteran of the Month,” please contact Nikki Eberly at with the name of the person and reasons for your nomination.

Olivia Giuffria

The Office of Veterans & Military Programs (VAMP) at UConn is pleased to recognize Olivia Giuffria as UConn’s Student Veteran of the Month.  Olivia is a member of the Air National Guard in Health Management Administration (4A0X1) within the 103rd Medical Group. Her additional duties include CPR instructor and CUI manager in addition to being a functional training manager for her section where she oversees the education and training. She enlisted in January 2021 and was just promoted to Staff Sergeant. Olivia’s dad is an Air Force veteran, and her brother is also active-duty Air Force, so it’s a great experience bringing her family to promotions and other family-oriented events for the military.

One of her most memorable experiences was going to Okinawa, Japan for AT in September 2024 where she trained & shadowed at the naval hospital for 3 weeks, learning how the different services work together and see how a military hospital works. On the way to/from Japan they also stopped in Alaska and Seattle and had the opportunity to explore those places too.

Olivia came to UConn in January 2022 after coming home from initial bootcamp/tech school training. She started on the pre-med track as a Physiology & Neurobiology student, but last year she realized that she wanted to do nursing.  So, she applied to the Nursing program, got in, and is now a nursing student set to graduate in 2027! Her goal is to become an ICU nurse and commission as a nurse into the Air Force and join the Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT). She currently works as a patient care technician at Hartford Hospital in the Neuro-Trauma ICU to gain experience. Besides her academic goals, Olivia wants to get out of her comfort zone and build close relationships. Over the past few years, she shares that it’s been important to join different clubs and get involved, to meet new people and build friendships. One of Olivia’s favorite parts about being a UConn student is going to the sports games and working as an RA. She loves putting on events for her residents and making different goodies for them such as treats or goodie bags to help build community and foster friendships. She has also met amazing people within the different RA staffs which has been amazing.

One piece of advice Olivia would give to fellow students is “to not be afraid to change paths mid college and to reach out if you need help. College is not easy, but there are so many great resources available to us that can make our life a little easier! Choosing a career path can also be very intimidating and challenging, so don’t be afraid to switch majors or paths if you feel that is right for you. It is better to get a degree in something you know will be right for you, even if it takes a little bit more time.”

If you would like to nominate a student, faculty, or staff member for “Veteran of the Month,” please contact Nikki Eberly at with the name of the person and reasons for your nomination.