When Sarah Rude graduated from high school, she faced a question many students ask themselves: What’s next?
She had started at University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, unsure of her direction and uneasy about taking on student loans without a clear plan. “It was terrifying,” she said, looking back. “I didn’t know what I wanted to study, and I was staring at all this debt. A friend from high school had joined the military, and it made me curious.”
She visited recruiters from all four branches of the military. “The Air Force seemed like the best fit for me,” she explained. “I wanted to learn skills that would transfer into the real world, and the Air Force had a strong reputation for that.” That decision launched a remarkable journey of nine years in uniform, filled with both service and personal growth.
Building a Career in Care
Sarah enlisted in October 1993 and entered active duty in February 1994, serving through March 2000. Her original eight-year contract was extended during the period surrounding 9/11, amid global uncertainty.
She trained and served as a Mental Health Technician, a role that combined medical readiness with compassion-driven care.
“I was trained in basic medical skills for deployment. essentially combat medic training, but my specialty was mental health,” Sarah said. “That covered everything from depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention to substance abuse treatment and family support.”
Her work extended beyond service members themselves. While at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana, a nuclear missile base, she saw first-hand how military looks out for the whole family. She explained. “If someone’s child or spouse had special needs, we made sure they weren’t stationed somewhere that couldn’t support those needs.”
Returning to College and Finding a New Community
After leaving active duty, Sarah returned to UW–Eau Claire, where she earned a double major in economics and political science. She later went back for her teaching credentials, spending several years teaching in different settings.
Sarah eventually transitioned into training and emergency management, working first as a State Training Officer for Homeland Security and Emergency Management in St. Paul, and later as the Training and Exercise Branch Director for the City of Minneapolis.
But in 2020, her life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer—a moment that forced her to pause and reassess her path. “2020 turned everyone’s world upside down,” she said. “Mine included.”
The experience reignited her passion for healthcare and helping others. “I realized I wanted to come full circle,” Sarah said. “I started in mental health care in the Air Force.” And, now she’s returning to that calling.
Today, Sarah is enrolled in Normandale’s Nursing program, pursuing her RN degree. “It feels like everything I’ve done: military service, teaching, emergency management, all leads back to caring for people,” she said.
At Normandale, she’s found both purpose and belonging. “I chose Normandale because it offered what I was missing, the community,” Sarah said. “The Veterans Resource Center made it clear that this was a place where veterans are understood and supported.”
Recognized for Leadership and Service
Sarah’s dedication to her education and her continued service to others recently earned her a Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Scholarship, an honor recognizing student veterans who demonstrate leadership, perseverance, and a commitment to helping fellow service members.
“Receiving the DAV scholarship was incredibly meaningful,” Sarah shared. “It’s not just financial support. It’s a message that what we’ve done and what we continue to do matters. It reminds me that I’m part of a larger community of veterans who are still making a difference.
The scholarship is helping Sarah continue her studies and strengthen her future career path, one rooted in the same values that guided her military service: compassion, service, and community impact.
The Veterans Resource Center: Normandale’s Home Base for Military Students
Located in the College Services Building, the Veterans Resource Center (VRC) is where Normandale’s military-connected students find services and solidarity.
The center is led by Lori York, Normandale’s Veterans Advisor & School Certifying Official, whose dedication has made the space a true home base for those who served.
“Lori is amazing,” Sarah said. “She helps with everything: benefits paperwork, class questions, even just listening. She genuinely cares. You walk in, and she makes sure you’re taken care of.”
The Veterans Resource Center offers:
Normandale’s veteran-friendly culture extends beyond one office. It’s woven into how the college serves students every day. Faculty and staff work closely with the Veterans Resource Center to ensure that military students succeed both academically and personally.
A Mission That Continues
For Sarah, returning to college wasn’t about starting over it was about continuing to serve, in new ways. “The Air Force taught me that helping people is at the heart of everything,” she said. “Normandale gives me the tools and the support to keep doing that.”
Through her studies, her leadership, and her example, Sarah Rude shows that service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off … it evolves.
Normandale is proud to honor veterans like Sarah this Veterans Day and every day, continuing its mission to help those who served find success, purpose, and community in their next chapter.
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