Gary Clark, an SRU assistant professor of physical and health education and an Army Reserve member, is shown on patrol on the perimeter in Afghanistan in 2012. Clark nominated SRU for the 2018 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

Slippery Rock University has been recognized by the Department of Defense, winning one of the 2018 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Awards.

The federal award is the highest government honor for employers who support National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve employees. To win, an organization must be nominated by a member of the military who is employed at the business.

The university was nominated by Gary Clark, assistant professor of physical and health education and an Army Reserve member.

“The university has been fantastic when it comes to allowing me to fulfill my Reservist duties,” Clark said in a news release announcing the award. “Military obligation can definitely place a burden on employers, and in the 10 years I've been at SRU, I have been deployed twice.”

In addition to Clark's deployments, he participates in field exercises each year that range from two weeks to nearly a month in length; participates in classes and training that range from one to three weeks in length; as well as battle assemblies that also take time away from work.

Fifteen recipients of the award were selected this year from among more than 2,350 nominees. SRU and Greencastle Associates Consulting, based in Malvern, were the only organizations from Pennsylvania to be selected.

More than 100 students at Slippery Rock University identify as veterans, according to the school, and an additional 300 to 350 identify as military-affiliated, meaning they are Reservists, active duty military, contracted ROTC cadets or dependents in military families.