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Owens TRIO Veterans Advocate Vincil Earns Prestigious 20 Under 40 Honor

TRIO Veterans Upward Bound assistant director Heather Vincil was named an award winner in the 20 Under 40 contest.

Heather Vincil isn’t seeking the spotlight, but with her work supporting military veterans as the assistant director of the TRIO Veterans Upward Bound program housed at Owens Community College, it found her nonetheless.

Vincil was recently named a Toledo 20 Under 40 Leadership Recognition Award recipient, joining 19 other individuals who are making an impact in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. She admitted she was “very surprised, humbled and honored” to receive the recognition.

“Being named a 20 Under 40 leader in Toledo isn’t just a personal achievement — it underscores the importance of showing up for our local veteran population,” Vincil said. “The dedication and leadership that earned me this recognition are completely fueled by the determination of the men and women who have served our country. This award belongs to them and to our team’s collective mission to ensure no veteran is left behind when they hang up the uniform.”

Precious Tate, Owens Earn & Learn Success Coach, was also a nominee.

Vincil is a U.S. Army veteran, having served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009-10. She received numerous honors, including the Distinguished Honor Graduate of the Warrior Leader Course and the Dave Sims Veteran of the Year award.

“This award is a direct reflection of the resilience, sacrifice and drive of the military veterans we serve every day through TRIO Veterans Upward Bound,” Vincil said. “Transitioning from military life back into academia can be a massive culture shock, and our mission is to provide the critical educational support, professional development and mentorship veterans need to succeed in higher education.”

TRIO Veterans Upward Bound, funded through the U.S. Department of Education, supports veterans who are committed to their education and motivated to achieve their college, career and professional goals. It provides eligible veterans and active-duty service members help and resources to enter a program of post-secondary education as well as giving veterans without a high school diploma an opportunity to prepare for the GED test.

Brandon Gaddy, director of TRIO Programs at Owens, said Vincil is an invaluable asset and has been essential to the support and services veterans receive.

“Since the day she joined us, her leadership has strengthened the program and the veterans it serves,” Gaddy said. “Heather simply wants to be a resource and advocate for veterans at every stage of life. Her vision pushes all of us to keep growing in how we serve veterans, first-generation college students and low-income individuals and their families, and we are proud of her accomplishments and celebrate her with this recognition.”

Vincil said the transition to civilian life can be one of the hardest stretches of a veteran’s life. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the suicide rate among veterans is higher in the first year after leaving the military than among veterans overall.

“Doing this work is vital to me because I believe we owe our service members more than just a ‘thank you for your service;’ we owe them tangible, actionable support,” she said. “Helping veterans understand and access their benefits has the power to redefine a veteran’s post-military trajectory, providing a stable foundation for their families and their futures. Empowering our local heroes to succeed in their civilian chapters is the most purposeful and fulfilling work I could ever ask for.”

Vincil was supposed to be honored during a banquet on Nov. 10, but she ended up in the Labor & Delivery department at a local hospital as her “upcoming little one decided it was the perfect time for a trial run,” she said.

“Everything is great and we are still eagerly waiting for the baby’s arrival, but it definitely gave a whole new meaning to ‘strategic planning’ on my big night,” she said. “I’m just so grateful for the incredible support from my work family and my actual family as we step into this wild next chapter.”

Veterans in crisis can dial 988 and press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line. Learn more about the TRIO Veterans Upward Bound program by visiting owens.edu/trio.