Running for Those Who Serve

When LSU Law students and military veterans Chad Granger and Marine Corps Captain Kurt Ebert crossed paths, they quickly found common ground, both in their public service and their shared vision for strengthening support for veterans and their families. That vision came to life this November with the inaugural Veterans 5K, an event organized by the LSU Law Veterans Advocacy Club to honor Veterans Day and raise funds for a new scholarship supporting current and future veterans and their families. 

“Something like this could have helped someone like me,” said Granger, a U.S. Army veteran who served two tours in Iraq. “When I decided to go to law school, I didn’t have any benefits left. I just knew I wanted to keep going, even if it meant taking out loans. A scholarship like this can make all the difference for veterans — or for their spouses and children — who are trying to take that next step.” 

“I think speeches could be written on why we want growing support for veterans,” Ebert added. “George Washington said, ‘The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve…shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans…and appreciated by their Nation.’ I think this is especially applicable to universities where young and emerging societal leaders are educated.” 

The event, co-led by Granger and Ebert, aimed to raise an initial $10,000 for the scholarship fund. Beyond the dollars, the two were determined to reignite a sense of community recognition and connection that has felt dimmed in recent years. 

“Since COVID, there really haven’t been many community events honoring veterans on Veterans Day,” Granger said. “We have things for Memorial Day, but that’s to honor the fallen. We wanted to do something to celebrate the veterans who are still here, still serving in different ways, still part of our community.” 

Granger’s path to LSU Law was far from linear. After graduating from high school in 2001, he enlisted in the Army, joining basic training just weeks after the September 11 attacks. He served until 2006, then worked as a plant operator before using the Post-9/11 GI Bill to attend LSU, ultimately earning an undergraduate degree in psychology. His work with the Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Veterans Upward Bound program opened his eyes to the many challenges veterans face when navigating benefits and resources. 

Ebert was commissioned as an officer in the Marine Corps in November 2018 following his graduation from Officer Candidate School, and soon after, he was assigned to the Military Police. He deployed to Okinawa, Japan, where he served as both a platoon commander and a police precinct officer in charge. Working closely with Judge Advocates in the military criminal justice system opened his eyes to the immediate impact attorneys can have as advocates armed with the law. In 2023, while attending Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Va., the opportunity arose to shift from law enforcement to the legal field. Inspired by the Judge Advocates who had served as his peers and mentors in Okinawa, he applied to the Marine Corps’ highly competitive Funded Law Education Program — and became one of just three service members selected that year. 

The Veterans 5K, which took place at LSU’s golf course, featured not just a run and walk, but also a traditional “ruck march,” during which participants carried weighted packs in a nod to military training. The event also included local veterans’ organizations, service officers, and partner groups hosting informational booths to connect attendees with resources and support networks. 

“We wanted it to be more than a race,” Granger explained. “This is a family event, something where veterans, students, and community members can all come together. This isn’t about competition. It’s about community. It’s about getting people out there to recognize veterans, to talk to one another, and to see how they can help.” 

While the scholarship will assist veterans directly, Granger and Ebert wanted to make sure it also extended to spouses, children, and Gold Star families — those who have lost loved ones in active service. 

“A law scholarship is a real need for the veteran,” Ebert said. “One of the biggest obstacles to someone even considering law school is cost, so let’s lift up our veterans to help themselves through this scholarship.” 

“(And) the veteran doesn’t serve alone,” Granger added. “They don’t do it without their families or their communities. My wife didn’t wear a uniform, but she’s earned every bit of the support this scholarship represents. Helping the families is another way of helping the veterans themselves.” 

Their goal: to make the Veterans 5K an annual Baton Rouge tradition. Ebert and Granger envision the race becoming a fixture like Baton Rouge’s Memorial Day Hero Hump, attracting hundreds of participants and community sponsors. Granger hopes the race will grow into a signature LSU Law event and a symbol of the university’s commitment to veterans. 

“LSU has such a strong military history, and there’s a real need for continued support,” he said. “There aren’t enough people specializing in veterans’ law or advocating for them the way they need. This scholarship is a way to change that, to help veterans and their families build better futures. At the end of the day, this is about giving back to the people who’ve given so much. If we can help even one veteran or one family get the support they need, it’s worth every mile.” 

 

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Inspired by Chad Granger and Kurt Ebert’s story? Visit givelsu.org to contribute.