Governor’s Cup Winner Eyes Iowa Army National Guard Medical Service

Brayden Collins, a 2021 BVU graduate, reflects on his time at BVU, which culminated in his commissioning to Second Lieutenant in the Iowa Army National Guard.

As a freshman, Brayden Collins focused on studying and running on the Buena Vista University track and field team.

As a graduate, he’s leaving BVU as Iowa Army National Guard Second Lieutenant Brayden Collins.

Collins, of Thor, was one of three BVU ROTC graduates to be commissioned following Commencement exercises on May 8. ROTC/BVU graduates Don Phillips II and Jared Daniel joined Collins in the commissioning ceremony.

“Dr. Lisa Mellmann (BVU Associate Professor of Chemistry) was my favorite professor, as she pushed me to go harder. She will be nudging me to go to medical school. She always told me, ‘Here is the standard. You can exceed the standard.’”

Brayden Collins

“It was a special occasion to be commissioned with Don and Jared; we’d become close,” says Collins.

Collins made many friends during his time at BVU, a byproduct of his involvement in several activities. The chemistry major was a member of the BVU Science Club. He competed in cross country and track and field. He was an ROTC member for four years and worked as a member of BVU Campus Security as a senior. He earned the Clifford A. Rae Academic Achievement Award three times.

As a junior, he was one of two BVU students to participate in BVU’s landmark Undergraduate Rural Medicine & Development (URMED) program and had the opportunity to shadow and observe surgeons and medical staff personnel serving hospitals in Storm Lake and Humboldt.

“The emergency medicine experience I received during URMED in January 2020 was intense,” he says. “There was an excitement, and something connected with me.”

Three BVU seniors were commissioned to the Army National Guard on Saturday, May 8.
Captain Brendan Lind (at the podium), Sergeant First Class Donavon Speers (seated) observe as three Buena Vista University ROTC members participate in the Commissioning ceremony following their BVU Commencement exercise on campus in Storm Lake on May 8. The officers, from left, include: Second Lieutenant Brayden Collins, Medical Services Corps; Second Lieutenant Jarrod Daniel, Medical Services Corps; and Second Lieutenant Don Phillips II, Transportation Corps.

Collins, who plans to spend the next year or so making animal vaccines at Elanco Animal Health in Fort Dodge, will also serve as a medical services officer for the Iowa Army National Guard. Medical school, he says, is likely in his future.

“Dr. Lisa Mellmann (BVU Associate Professor of Chemistry) was my favorite professor, as she pushed me to go harder,” Collins says. “She will be nudging me to go to medical school. She always told me, ‘Here is the standard. You can exceed the standard.’”

Collins, who earned the Governor’s Cup award from Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, presented to the top ROTC graduate at each Iowa college offering the program, says the allure to military service can be traced to his grandfathers, both of whom served their country.

“Initially, being in ROTC was something I saw as a way to help pay for school,” Collins says. “Over time, it morphed into ways in which I could see myself improving and being better able to serve my country.”

Collins’ first salute at the ceremony was directed at a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps, who served for five years, including a deployment in Japan. Collins noted the salute was special, one he’ll remember for a lifetime. “It was my twin brother, Bryce,” he says.

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