North Columbus News

Eric Sowers, The Ohio State University’s 11th Tillman Scholar, was inspired by the scholarship’s namesake and his call to service following 9/11. Pat Tillman, the NFL-star-turned-Army Ranger, left a lucrative professional football career to join the elite unit after the 2001 terror attack. Sowers, then a Columbus high school student, felt a similar call to service and enlisted at the earliest opportunity.

“They told me to come back in another year. I came back when I was 17, signed up in the delayed entry program and once I completed high school in 2004, I left for the Army,” he said.

“When I went to the recruiter's office, he was like, ‘Well, what do you want to do?’ I just wanted to serve with Pat Tillman. That’s all I knew. I wanted to be an airborne ranger. Unfortunately, he was killed in action, so that never came to fruition.”

His delayed enlistment wouldn’t be the first time Sowers would be told no – but he pressed forward regardless. In the Army, Sowers was a member of the famed 82nd Airborne Division and spent four years in service, including 15 months in Afghanistan.

When he left the Army and returned to Columbus, he admits he got into trouble right away.

“Everything that I do now for veterans really took off when I got out in 2008. … I spent the better part of the next decade getting a legal education on the wrong side of the law,” Sowers said.

Run-ins with the legal system included assault and drunk driving convictions. He became so familiar with the process that he committed to memory how to bail himself out of jail.

The birth of his children inspired Sowers to take stock of his life.

“I was like, ‘Yeah, I need to fix this, to be the best version I could be for them.’”

He returned to school: Columbus State Community College and then Kent State’s online program. Sowers completed a paralegal degree intending to become a lawyer who helps fellow veterans in the criminal justice system. He began working in Veteran Treatment Courts in Franklin and Delaware counties.

Through his work, Sowers met other veterans who had established careers in social work which shifted his focus. Ohio State was his dream school; however, he faced repeated rejections from their Master of Social Work program.

After being turned down a third time, Sowers sought an in-person meeting with college admissions.

“I just wanted to know what do I have to do to make Ohio State like me enough to let me be a student?” he said.

Sowers’ persistence paid off as he explained how his experience as a veteran would benefit both him and their program. Consequently, he gained admission into Ohio State's program.

Now a PhD candidate at Ohio State's College of Social Work, Sowers continues his commitment by helping develop federal legislation for veterans such as Veterans Justice Outreach Improvement Act and STRONG Veterans Act. He serves as Military Community Advocate at Ohio State and previously presided over its Student Veterans Association.

John Provenzano from Ohio State's College of Social Work has known Sowers since they met through Save A Warrior program in 2018. They are collaborating on courses aimed at educating students about military issues faced by veterans.

“Eric is one of most dedicated individuals I've met regarding veterans’ issues," Provenzano stated."He has dedicated himself serving veterans within social work field while raising awareness towards challenges faced by them."

The Tillman Scholarship will assist managing responsibilities balancing student life alongside fatherhood & community advocacy duties till completing PhD expectedly around2026 aiming improved veteran transitions into civilian lives maintaining good legal standings advancing opportunities further ahead

“I don’t hide behind anything that I've done because it fuels motivation showing others current situations don't define futures," expressed Eric proudly reflecting upon journey thus far