Building on the national recognition Walsh University received after earning the 2026 NCAA Division II Award of Excellence for its Cav Salute program honoring veterans, Walsh University Women’s Soccer team hosted The Women’s Soccer Leadership Summit on March 16 in partnership with the U.S. Marines from the Marine Corps Recruiting Sub-Station Canton, to offer lessons in military-style physical training in addition to discipline, teamwork, and leadership development.
The summit was led by Head Coach Hannah Brown in collaboration with Walsh alumnus and U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Joshua Ruiz ’21, Coordinator of Veterans Affairs with the goal to build resilience and understand how leadership principles transcend both athletics and military service.
“Rigorous military training requires the same mental toughness and unity that define successful teams,” said Coach Brown. “By engaging with the Marines, our scholar-athletes experience firsthand how self-discipline, trust, and communication form the foundation of great leadership—on and off the field.”
Following the physical workout, Marines from the Recruiting Sub-Station Canton led scholar-athletes through interactive leadership exercises centered on core values such as service, accountability, and integrity. The program underscored the shared missions of athletics and military service: building character, fostering teamwork, and leading with purpose.
Ruiz, who oversees Walsh’s Center for Veteran Affairs, continues to strengthen the University’s partnership with the armed forces through programs that promote student success and community engagement. The Center supports veteran and military-affiliated students and their families, providing guidance on educational benefits, wellness resources, and military-friendly initiatives across campus.
“As both a Marine and a Walsh graduate, I know the power of shared struggle in bringing teams together,” said Ruiz. “Leadership is forged through challenge—and this event helps scholar-athletes embrace that truth through the values the Marines live every day.”
At Walsh University, athletics is the largest leadership laboratory on campus, where scholar-athletes are challenged to grow as service-minded, disciplined, and faith-filled leaders representing the Cavaliers both in the community and on the field.
