Legal studies major Nick Salerno says his time with Temple’s ROTC has taught him invaluable lessons. (Photo courtesy of Nick Salerno)
Name: Nick Salerno
Major: Legal Studies
Ever since he was a child, legal studies major Nick Salerno has had a passion for the military. Years later, his passion has become a reality.
“Growing up and hearing about my family’s incredible stories and sacrifices really motivated me to join the military in some capacity,” Salerno says. “The question was, what would it look like for me? There are so many different avenues.”
Salerno considered attending military colleges or service academies. But, after receiving a sizable scholarship from the Connecticut National Guard, the decision was clear; he enrolled in Temple University’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program with plans to pursue legal studies at the Fox School of Business.
“The bulk of your college experience isn’t just shoving your head in a book five days a week. You get to be involved in so much, and I’ve definitely done that.”
“I decided that if I was going to go to a civilian school, I wanted to go to a school with a great ROTC program and lots of military recognition–that’s Temple,” he says.
Now nearing graduation, Salerno says juggling both civilian and military responsibilities has been a unique, but rewarding, challenge over the last four years. Attending early morning training sessions and taking military science courses have helped him become more disciplined.
“The military really forces you to have a structured lifestyle,” says Salerno. “It’s helped me stay motivated and disciplined. It’s taught me how to be a good leader, role model, listener and advocate.”
Salerno’s Temple experience extends far beyond his early-morning ROTC training. As a peer teacher and mentor, he has assisted over 200 students across six sections of law and ethics courses and completed three internships for law firms in the Philadelphia area.
Nick Salerno says Temple’s great ROTC program made it easy for him to make the university his top choice.
(Photo courtesy of Nick Salerno)
Just weeks before graduation, he was notified that he was a recipient of Temple University’s 2024 Diamond Award, the highest recognition given to an undergraduate student, based on a holistic evaluation of the student’s accomplishments.
As an international business minor, Salerno has utilized Temple’s resources to learn more about other business abroad. He has studied at Temple’s Rome campus, attended Fox Global Immersion programs in South Africa and London, and participated in a virtual Fox Without Borders session in Turkey.
Salerno says his Temple experience has been nothing short of, “memorable, enjoyable and honorable.”
Upon graduation, he will work part-time as an adjutant general officer for the Connecticut Army National Guard for eight years as part of his scholarship.
Graduation Spotlights
Salerno reflects fondly on the military and civilian experiences he gained at the university.
“The bulk of your college experience isn’t just shoving your head in a book five days a week,” he says. “You get to be involved in so much, and I’ve definitely done that.”
To learn more about military and veteran students, click here.