Seth Cobb was excelling in his second semester of nursing school at the University of Arkansas when unforseen circumstances nearly forced him to drop out.

In early 2019, a family member was facing an urgent financial hardship and Cobb decided he needed to work full time to help. Fortunately, he was awarded the Mike and Cindy Bonds Advance Arkansas Scholarship that same month.

"It was the perfect time," he said. "I am incredibly grateful to be the recipient. With Advance Arkansas scholarship's assistance, I was able to provide for myself and my family in Houston. I am lucky and thankful for this scholarship and how it truly made a difference in my life. Scholarships continue to be critical for students from Arkansas like me."

Now Cobb can focus on schoolwork and his dream of becoming a nurse, a calling that began when he was an Army medic with the 82nd Airborne Division. He said military service taught him that building a bright future requires initiative.

After four years in Army, Cobb decided to move back to Arkansas and pursue his passion.

"My service as a medic cemented that dream and showed me that I had found what I wanted to do with my life," he said. "I have never gotten as much fulfillment from life as I did when helping my fellow soldiers through medicine."

He chose the U of A's Eleanor Mann School of Nursing for its reputation as a rigorous and highly respected program.

Cobb is also helping others on the U of A campus. He's the president of the Razorback Student Veterans organization which helps student veterans transition to civilian life. He focuses on connectivity and service.

"We aim to alleviate some of their challenges by providing a peer group they can relate to, while also giving them an outlet to continue the service they built their lives on in the military through volunteering and service projects here at home," Cobb said.

Members volunteer at the Veteran's Association, veteran advocacy groups and at the U of A.

Cobb said the suicide rate among veterans is staggering. An estimated 22 veterans a day commit suicide, often due to a variety of mental health afflictions, he said.

"It is my goal to ensure that nothing of that nature happens here," he said. "I want us to be there for each other, talking through adversity, encouraging those who need it to get help, and growing together toward future success while also enriching our community and the lives of those within it."

Cobb's commitment to his fellow veterans and the community started early. In his first semester at the U of A, he was selected to be a military hero and was honored at the Vanderbilt-Razorback home football game. "I got to bring my dad on the field as I was mentioned and it was an overall surreal experience," he said.

Cobb remains part of the military. He serves in the Individual Ready Reserves.

"That basically means I will get recalled into service should the Army deem it necessary," he said.

Cobb makes the most of the NWA region. He enjoys hiking, running and camping. He works at the U of A bookstore on Garland.

"I have an immense passion for this community and for our university," he said.

This story is part of a series featuring outstanding students in the College of Education and Health Professions.Visit COEHP's online magazine, the Colleague, to see more pictures of Seth. Visit the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing at the University of Arkansas and find out why he's so excited about the program.

About the College of Education and Health Professions: The College of Education and Health Professions offers advanced academic degrees as well as professional development opportunities and learning communities in service to the education and health systems of Arkansas and beyond. The college provides the education and experiences for a variety of professional roles, ranging from community mental health counselors to school teachers and leaders. Programs in adult and higher education, along with educational technology and sport management, offer a broad range of options. In addition to education-related opportunities, the college prepares nurses, speech-language pathologists, health educators and administrators, recreation professionals, rehabilitation counselors and human performance researchers.