Warrior Spirit Veterans Day Spotlight

Leave No One Behind: Faith, Service

& Servant Leadership

At Houston Christian University (HCU), the VALOR Peer Mentorship Program brings the military commitment of Leave No One Behind into the lives of military-affiliated students.

Led by Cody Harrington, Director of Veteran & Military Services, VALOR (Veteran Academic Leaders for Outreach and Resources) provides mentorship, guidance and opportunities for growth, building a community where students feel valued, supported and equipped to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.

For Harrington, the heart behind VALOR is deeply personal and rooted in his faith.

"I truly believe this program was born from God's heart for people and my willingness to listen and follow where He was leading me," Harrington shares. "When God opened the door for me to serve at HCU, I didn't want to simply step into another job. I wanted to be faithful to what He was calling me to do."

As both a veteran and former college student, Harrington understands firsthand the importance of relationships and encouragement. Those experiences helped shape one of his first initiatives at HCU, built around a simple but powerful commitment: Leave No One Behind.

"As a veteran, those words carry a deep meaning. In the military, we understand the importance of looking out for one another, and I wanted to bring that same commitment into how we serve our students," he explains. "I don't want anyone to feel forgotten, disconnected or as though they have to figure everything out on their own."

From Veterans Helping Veterans

to a Community of Support

VALOR began in 2021 with Harrington and a handful of student veterans who wanted to ensure that military-affiliated students had the support they needed to succeed.

"God placed a burden on my heart to ensure that no military-affiliated student would be left behind," Harrington shares.

What started as veterans helping veterans has grown into an intentional peer mentorship program focused on academic success, navigating VA benefits and building meaningful relationships. Mentors help students adjust to college life, access resources and find encouragement from others who understand their experiences.

VALOR also offers opportunities for spiritual growth. Once students are settled into their classes, they can participate in voluntary discipleship through a partnership with The Navigators. Men are offered Every Man a Warrior, while women can participate in Cultivating Holy Beauty. Both focus on growing in God's Word, prayer, and a personal relationship with Christ.

For Harrington, supporting students means caring about more than their academic achievements.

"Everything I do is ultimately for Christ. My desire is to love and serve others the way He has loved and served me. I don't want our students to simply enroll, earn a degree, and move on. I want them to know they matter, that they belong, and that someone genuinely cares about their lives and their success."

The Impact of Showing Up

One student veteran's experience has stayed with Harrington over the years.

The student was facing significant challenges in his marriage and personal life. During difficult moments, he would turn to Harrington for guidance, encouragement or simply someone willing to listen.

Sometimes their conversations covered the same struggles again and again. But the student continued reaching out, and Harrington continued making himself available.

Rather than offering quick solutions, Harrington invested his time, spoke truth into the student's life, and consistently pointed him toward Christ.

Over time, he began to see changes. The student developed a deeper commitment to his relationship with Christ, began spending time in God's Word, and grew in his understanding of what it meant to follow Jesus in everyday life.

Eventually, Harrington had the privilege of seeing the student's marriage restored and watching him grow into a man devoted to his faith.

For Harrington, the experience demonstrated the importance of patience, consistency and grace. Meaningful change doesn't always happen quickly, and sometimes the most important thing a mentor can do is continue showing up.

"I don't take credit for what happened in his life. God did the transforming. I simply had the privilege of walking alongside him and witnessing His work."

It's one example of how VALOR's impact extends beyond the classroom, offering encouragement and support through life's challenges.

Developing the Next Generation

of Servant Leaders

As VALOR continues to grow, Harrington wants every incoming military-affiliated student at HCU to know they have someone in their corner from the moment they arrive on campus.

His vision is to build a lasting community where students are supported, equipped, and inspired to invest in others.

"My hope is that through VALOR, students will not only receive mentorship and encouragement but will eventually become the ones investing in others. I want to see a community of servant leaders who understand the value of walking alongside someone, just as someone once walked alongside them."

For Harrington, leadership isn't about holding a position or title. It's about the difference we make in the lives of others.

Looking ahead, he also hopes to expand opportunities for discipleship and spiritual growth, giving students spaces to build friendships, deepen their faith, and discover their purpose.

How Others Can Support VALOR

Harrington welcomes opportunities to partner with individuals, veterans and community organizations who share his commitment to military-affiliated students. Community members can support VALOR through volunteer mentorship, leadership development, professional networking, educational workshops and financial contributions that help expand programming. These partnerships provide additional resources and opportunities as students prepare for life beyond college.

Faith Put Into Action

Gabe Onofre, Army veteran and co-founder of Warrior Spirit says, “Cody, Warrior Spirit salutes you! You're helping the men and women who answered the call to serve our country achieve their educational goals while discovering new ways to make a difference. May God continue to inspire and guide you as you develop future leaders who carry their commitment to service beyond the uniform and into their families, workplaces and communities.”

At Warrior Spirit, we value faith put into action. Cody's dedication to military-affiliated students and his commitment to their success reflect the very spirit of our mission.

As Cody shares, "My prayer is that through this program, no one gets left behind and that God receives all the glory for what is accomplished."

Learn More About VALOR

Cody Harrington

Director, Veteran & Military Services

Houston Christian University

charrington@hc.edu

https://hc.edu/veterans/