Tony Earnest
Veterans of Baylor President
Branch of Service: United States Navy
Tony Earnest is 25 years old and from Burnett, Texas. He holds a Bachelor of Psychology degree with a minor in forensic science at Baylor University. He has been accepted into the University of Oklahoma’s Master of Forensic Science program. Plunk spent a total of 4 years with an additional extension in the United States Navy and has been deployed a total of 5 times. He spent about 3 years in Bahrain with a riverine squadron. His primary duties included being base police. Earnest is highly dedicated and committed to earning his master's degree in forensic science and hopes to give back to the community by becoming an employee with the Federal Government as a Texas ranger or State Trooper. With his degrees he will be better able to understand others and be more proficient in his line of duty. What Earnest values most is the Veterans Department Program led by Kevin Davis and the available resources it provides to him and his colleagues.
As President of the Veterans of Baylor (VoB) program, Earnest uses his platform to ensure that future and current Baylor Veterans can find their path and their place at Baylor University. The VoB not only has permitted Earnest to help others, but the program has also catapulted his college experience and career immensely. With the VoB, he has had the opportunity to work in a group of like-minded individuals with similar military backgrounds. Earnest believes that the VoB instills a sense of camaraderie, a feeling of belonging that the military creates for its members, and then is re-created here at Baylor within the program. As the VoB President he has gotten more of his colleagues to get involved and better learn what the program has to offer.
With the VoB, Earnest uses his platform to network within the Baylor community, as well as with the local veteran populace here in Waco. Networking has also allowed Earnest to utilize Baylor VETS (Veteran Educational and Transition Services)—a program that has been instrumental to his development and transition from military to civilian life. The VETS Program equips their students with the tools they need to succeed, and Earnest shares this information with all new transfer veteran students, current Baylor veterans, and anyone interested in the VETS program.
Highest rank received when discharged: MA2 Second Class Petty Officer
Job Title: Master at Arms (MA)
Awards and Recognitions: Baylor University’s Deans list Fall of 2018 and Spring of 2020, Tau sigma an honor society for transfers, BU Veteran honor society, Navy Marine Corps Achievement medal, Navy good conduct medal, GWOT exp medal, AWD Nav Admin, Navy Marine Corps OVS Service ribbon (2), National defense service medal, and Navy pistol ribbon.
Degrees: Baylor University Major Psychology with Minor in Forensic Science and Acceptance into the Master’s Program of Forensic Science at Oklahoma State.