< Previous50 UNIVERSITY NEWS AUBURNTIGERS.COM From its early years to today’s research benefiting service men and women, Auburn University remains a strong supporter of our nation’s military. When it was known as East Alabama Male College, Auburn taught military tactics, and students wore grey woolen- uniforms and marched to class in companies. These days, the uniform-clad students undergoing military training are part of one of the three Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs. For those students who already served their country, the Veterans Resource Center can help them navigate the return to civilian life and complete their college education. Because of the work of VRC staff and others, Auburn has consistently earned the Military Friendly® School designation from G.I. Jobs magazine. EQUIPMENT SUPPORT The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering collaborates with the military in a number of research areas. In January, the university announced the largest research contract in its history was awarded to the college to help the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center boost its increasing modernization efforts with advanced manufacturing. The project will be facilitated through the Auburn University Applied Research Institute in Huntsville and rely extensively on research expertise in Auburn’s National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence and the Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems. Steve Taylor, senior vice president for research and economic development, called it a “significant accomplishment for Auburn’s research enterprise,” placing value on the university’s Army partners in Huntsville and beyond, as well as Auburn’s work in advanced manufacturing. In 2022, Auburn and the Army signed a 10-year, renewable Intergovernmental Support Agreement for the university to provide natural resource management services to eight Army bases across the Southeast. The agreement has since expanded to include 27 Army installations in the Eastern region and environmental, cultural, architecture and engineering services. The partnership led to the establishment of the Center for Natural Resource Management on Military Lands in Auburn’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment. WARRIOR SUPPORT JoEllen Sefton, a professor in the School of Kinesiology and director of Auburn’s Warrior Research Center in the College of Education, has been researching military populations since 2008. Her recent work involves developing a comprehensive performance initiative for military service members attending Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. “One reason the Air Force came to us is because the Warrior Research Center reaches out across Auburn to collaborate with partners that can help us provide any additional expertise that’s needed,” she said. The initiative, named BOLT for the lightning bolts on the Air University shield, is designed to focus on the Air Force’s Comprehensive Airman Fitness pillars: physical, social, spiritual and mental. The program’s first participants are the 500 military service members currently teaching and studying at Air University’s Air Command and Staff College. Engineering also has an educational partnership with Air University, as well as Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia, that allow engineering faculty and students to participate in Air Force- related research and technology. FAMILY SUPPORT The work of two faculty members with the Department of Human Development and Family Science in the College of Human Sciences support the military and their families. Professor Mallory Lucier-Greer uses Military REACH to bridge the gap between military family research and practice by making research practical and accessible to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and others who work on behalf of military families. “Family readiness is an essential component of operational readiness, such that service members with healthy, prepared families are better prepared to focus on their mission,” she said. “Part of my job is identifying resources, supports and programs that enhance family readiness.” Associate Professor Kyle Kostelecky also has a longstanding partnership with the DOD to meet the professional development needs of those who serve military families worldwide through OneOp. It is “a virtual organization with global reach,” offering free, online learning opportunities to the DOD, Cooperative Extension System, community non- and for-profit organizations and others. Both projects receive funding through a partnership between DOD’s Office of Military Community and Family Policy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture/ National Institute of Food and Agriculture. UNIVERSITY NEWS BY: AMY WEAVER PERPETUAL PARTNERSHIP: AUBURN, U.S. MILITARY ARE FOREVER CONNECTED Admiral Christopher Grady, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently visited the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, including its National Center for Additive Manufacturing Excellence, because of Auburn’s work with the U.S. military. Research efforts at Auburn not only support members of the U.S. military but also their families and others who work on behalf of military families.129 E. Glenn Ave. (Downtown) (334) 209-6390 1673 Shug Jordan Pkwy. Suite A (334) 209-1295 1684 S. College St. (334) 209-1140 Serving Auburn for over 40 years “Bertha!”52 ON THE PLAINS AUBURNTIGERS.COM A love affair with football began for a very tall man at a very small age. Auburn senior offensive lineman Iza- vion “Too Tall” Miller has found his heart in the gridiron game, and he is grateful for its impact on his life on and off the field. “I’ve been playing football since I was six,” the Memphis native recalled of his introduction to the game. “Some random guy with the Memphis Broncos came up one day to our door and asked if I wanted to play pee-wee football. And I’ve been at it ever since. “In high school is where I got my nick- name ‘Too Tall.’ My high school coach, Je- rome Griffin, gives everybody a nickname and mine was ‘Too Tall.’ I guess because I am tall, but that was a great player, too,” Miller said, referring to NFL legend Ed “Too Tall” Jones of the Dallas Cowboys. Miller’s progression in football from Wooddale High in Memphis to South- west Mississippi Community College to Auburn has been slow and steady, as the results show. “Going into juco, I wasn’t even ex- pecting to start when I got there,” Miller recalled of his first season at Southwest Mississippi. “But then the game got real easy and my second year of juco, I start- ed recognizing all the offense. That’s when I thought maybe I could do this full-time at a higher level.” After earning NJCAA all-region and all-Mississippi Association of Commu- nity Colleges Conference (MACCC) honors, along with preseason All-Amer- ica recognition, Miller arrived at Auburn before the 2023 season and earned the starting nod at right tackle for every game last year. “I love the game of football,” Miller said. “I love it. I love the physicality – be- ing physical and being free out there on the field. The game is deep in my heart.” For Miller, a growing love for Auburn and the community that has embraced him on the Plains is also in his heart. “Ultimately, my decision to come to Auburn came down to my relationship with my coaches,” he said. “During my recruiting process out of juco, I was orig- inally going to go to Ole Miss with Coach (Jake) Thornton and then he ended up coming here (as Auburn’s offensive line coach). “It’s been a good fit with Coach Thorn- ton. He’s a great man, he and Coach (Hugh) Freeze. I liked everything about Auburn and decided to come here. “Coming in, I was just expecting foot- ball, but with Coach Freeze, I feel like I’ve gotten a lot more than that. He’s teach- ing us how to appreciate football and to live without football, to be grateful for it – just be grateful for life.” Miller comes from a close family, and they enjoy Auburn, too. “I have a pretty big family. They’re very sports minded,” he said. “My grandpar- ents, my mom and my siblings all come to games here. “I just love this community. To be here, with great people, in a great community, I love it.” Miller is chasing more goals than just those in football during his time at Au- burn. “I’m an interdisciplinary studies ma- jor, because it gives me the option to get multiple majors. Mine are leadership and sports communication,” Miller ex- plained. “After football is done, I want to become a coach. A high school coach is what I would truly like to be. I have had great coaches, and I would like to be that influence for somebody else.” ON THE PLAINS WITH IZAVION MILLER BY: SHELLY POE ‘GRATEFUL FOR FOOTBALL’ORANGE AND BLUE ©2024 BLUE MOON BREWING COMPANY, GOLDEN, CO • ALE54 2024 STADIUM MAP 2024 STADIUM MAP AUBURNTIGERS.COM (NS PASS) NORTH STADIUM LOT SOUTH DONAHUE DRIVE HEISMAN DRIVE SOUTH DONAHUE DRIVE HEISMAN DRIVE BILL & CONNIE NEVILLE LOBBY SUITE TICKET PICK-UP 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 20 0 EXIT GATE STUDENT GATE STUDENT GATE SOUTH SERVICE GATE AUBURN PLAYER GUEST STUDENT GATE BROADWAY CLUB & MEDIA CREDENTIALS TIGER WALK CLUB ENTRANCE HIGH SCHOOL COACHES 11 10 1U VISITING PLAYER GUEST & VISITING FAN TICKET PICK-UP NORTH SERVICE GATE VISITING TEAM LOCKER ROOM FOOTBALL RECRUITING OLYMPIC SPORT RECRUITING TIGER WALK CLUB 1 1 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 12 12 14 15 14 13 15 16 16 17 17 18 1819 19 20 20 21 46 46 45 44 44 434241 43424140 4039 39 38 38 37 37 36 35 35 34 34 33 33 32 32 31 31 30 30 2929 28 28 114 113 112 111 110 109 108 107 106 105 104 103 102 21 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 ADA SHUTTLE PICKUP ADA SHUTTLE PICKUP HRC ONLY BROADWAY CLUB ONLY TICKET OFFICE TICKET OFFICE TICKET OFFICE GAMEDAY TRANSIT & FANFEST NEVILLE ARENA TICKET OFFICE Sales & Pick-Up BROADWAY CLUB SUITESSUITES NELSON CLUB BECKWITH CLUB Entry Gate Water Station Cooling Station LEGEND Medical Bag Entry Special Access Statues Guest Services ADA Shuttle Elevator First Aid Tiger Babies Charging Station Student Section Seating bowl closed to non-students Team ShopCIVIL CONSTRUCTION, DONE RIGHT56 2024 AUBURN PARKING MAP 2024 AUBURN PARKING MAP AUBURNTIGERS.COM WOODFIELD LOT (ADA Reserved with Tailgating) SEE NEXT PAGE FOR LEGEND Auburn University is a smoke-free campus. THANK YOU FOR NOT SMOKING. Map information is subject to change. Visit AUBURNTIGERS.COM for updates to this map and other game day information. SCAN FOR DIGITAL2024 AUBURN PARKING MAP LEGEND 57 2024 AUBURN PARKING LEGEND AUBURNTIGERS.COMWelcome to Delicious YOUR LOCAL CULVER’S RESTAURANT: Culver’s of Auburn 2080 E University Dr Auburn, AL 36830 (334) 209-2708 YOUR LOCAL CULVER’S RESTAURANT: Culver’s of Auburn 2080 E University Dr Auburn, AL 36830 (334) 209-2708 Empowering Your Financial Journey. 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