Copey “Marquis” Rice.
Copey “Marquis” Rice.

UVA Vet Scholar Participates in Democracy Initiative, Community Service

Winter 2022 | Veterans

As a new undergraduate at UVA, Posse Veterans Scholar Copey “Marquis” Rice is already making the most of the opportunities on campus. This October, he was one of two students chosen to engage in a discussion at the launch event for the UVA Democracy Initiative’s new partnership with StoryCorps’ “One Step” program.

“One Small Step” aims to put a spotlight on dialogues that unite rather than divide people. Their goal is to gather more than 250 conversations at the university and in the Charlottesville community.

“Just months ago, I did not imagine that I would be at the University of Virginia, and for this and for Posse I am grateful.”

“It was through The Posse Foundation’s Pre-Collegiate Training that I learned to respect other voices, which led me to apply for the opportunity,” says Marquis, who is a U.S. Army veteran.

Beyond participation in the “One Step” event, Marquis is chair of the Student Veterans of America at UVA’s veteran service committee and played a leading role in the chapter’s recent efforts to raise funds to help resettle Afghan refugees.

“Just months ago, I did not imagine that I would be at the University of Virginia, and for this and for Posse I am grateful,” Marquis says.

“Marquis exemplifies why it is so important to have veterans’ voices on campus,” says Posse Veterans Program Director Adam Lessuck. “He has hit the ground running as a Scholar at UVA and embodies in his day-to-day activity the Posse ethos of leadership.”