February 10, 2026
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) is accepting award submissions for its 2026 Employment Impact and Education Impact Awards through Friday, Apr. 17, 2026. The Impact Awards, previously known as the Innovator Awards, recognize academic institutions and employers enrolled in MVAA's Veteran-Friendly Employer (VFE) and Veteran-Friendly School (VFS) programs for displaying excellence in their mission to serve veterans.
“The MVAA Impact Awards represent the highest level of recognition we offer to institutions serving veterans and military-connected learners," said MVAA director Terry J. Sabo. "These awards are not just about honoring excellence and innovation, they are how we identify what is working across the state so we can continue to grow, adapt and lead in the veteran space. By applying, employers and educational institutions help showcase best practices, share innovative approaches and ensure Michigan remains a national leader in supporting those who have served.”
For more information about the Impact Awards, including eligibility requirements and information about previous winners, please visit the MVAA Education Impact and MVAA Employer Impact websites.
MVAA Veteran-Friendly Schools Program
MVAA's VFS program awards Gold, Silver or Bronze-level status to colleges, universities and training facilities that demonstrate exceptional dedication to meeting the unique needs of the veteran community. Recognition is based on a range of veteran-focused services, including dedicated resource centers, academic advising, peer-to-peer mentoring and career readiness initiatives.
Any academic institution or training facility in Michigan that is eligible to receive veteran education benefits can apply for the program. The participation growth demonstrates a strong statewide commitment to making Michigan one of the most veteran-friendly states in the nation.
For more information about the VFS program, including the full list of recognized institutions, visit the VFS Dashboard.
MVAA Veteran-Friendly Employer Program
MVAA recognizes employers that commit to military veteran recruitment, training and retention practices by awarding those employers Gold, Silver and Bronze-level status as VFEs. MVAA's VFE program helps qualified organizations recruit and retain top veteran talent while providing others a road map to improve their recruitment efforts.
MVAA will assist employers as they develop and improve their efforts to recruit and retain high-quality veteran candidates. Employers who meet the criteria will be publicly recognized and allowed to use the Gold, Silver or Bronze Michigan VFE logo to market themselves to potential veteran applicants.
For more information about the VFE and VFS programs, email MVAAstrategy@michigan.gov.
Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency – The MVAA is the central coordinating agency, providing support, care advocacy and service to veterans and their families. As a state agency, MVAA works to identify and break down barriers veterans face in employment, education, health care and quality of life, to make Michigan a great place for veterans and their families to call home. More information about MVAA is available at Michigan.gov/MVAA or by reading our FY25 Annual Report.
