Service At The Core For UIC Student Rep, Marine Vet
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Semper Fi -- Always Faithful. It's the Marine Corps motto. One young man from Englewood lives that pledge at his Chicago university. CBS 2's Jim Williams was there on this Veteran's Day.
Even on a campus of nearly 30,000 students, Jauwan Hall stands out. It's the quiet confidence and maturity of UIC's student representative on the University of Illinois' board of trustees.
"Just being able to serve and being able to represent individuals at the levels that I represent people at, that's really what it's all about for me."
Service has been at the center of Hall's life for a while now. He spent eight years in the Marine Corps, with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"It really instilled in me the ability to understand what I'm capable of," Hall said. "Also instilled in me the confidence to know that I can continue to push myself."
Bringing that resolve home to Englewood. He says he thinks of "opportunity" when thinking about his home neighborhood.
As a University trustee, he's pushing for expanded health care for students and combating sexual assault on campus, winning Jauwan Hall many admirers at UIC.
"He's very personable," said "He's a strong student leader."
A leader who wore the uniform.
"Honored to have had an opportunity to wear it and humbled, truly humbled," Hall said.
Jauwan Hall is a senior at UIC, with plans to attend law school. He had to win an election for a spot on the U of I's board of trustees. This first time all three student members of the board of trustees representing the Champaign-Urbana, UIC and the Springfield campuses are all African American.