By: Isabella Lebron
First-year Honors College student Sophia White is turning a lifelong connection to the military into meaningful work through an internship with Tours of Duty, a nonprofit dedicated to honoring veterans and helping bring closure to families of American prisoners of war and those missing in action. White is double majoring in biological anthropology and English. This internship experience epitomizes how Honors College students like Sophia build their academic interests into real-world contexts, embracing leadership, service, and learning opportunities to meet the Honors College missions to: “engage beyond themselves, across disciplinary boundaries, and in collaboration with others.”
Explaining her interest and how she learned about this internship, White shared, “I am from a military family, which is how I first came to learn about Tours of Duty. That, coupled with my interest in pursuing a career in forensic anthropology, really made this organization stand out to me.” Through forensic anthropology, White hopes to participate in field work that recovers human remains and returns them to families. She explained,
My personal drive and passion comes from an incessant need to help those who can no longer help themselves—the dead—as well as bring comfort and peace to their families.
White has begun her coursework in the foundations of anthropology taking introductory coursework in cultural and biological anthropology. White said the internship builds on the foundation she has developed in the classroom while also providing opportunities to apply those skills in real-world contexts. Through the internship, White said she has gained a deeper appreciation for the many forms service can take. She stated,
I have never been a fighter, but many have told me I have a way with words. While writing may not seem important in times of great historical change, it is often the best way to remind people of the true stories that make the life we live possible.
White’s primary responsibility with the internship has been writing monthly research articles that explore topics related to anthropology and the organization’s mission. Thus far, her pieces have examined her personal background and path toward forensic anthropology, the contributions of Native American veterans and code talkers, and the number of missing and captured soldiers from the D-Day campaign in Normandy, France. White stated, “These articles allow me to share perspectives of otherwise forgotten individuals who paid for our freedoms with the ultimate sacrifice.”
Through this internship White will also have the opportunity to earn a Certificate in Forensic Science at Texas State University over the summer 2026. The program is being funded by Tours of Duty and will prepare White to work alongside veterans and forensic specialists conducting field work abroad. About this opportunity, she reflected,
With this certificate, I will be able to join veterans and forensic specialists as they travel to Europe, Asia and the Middle East in order to conduct field work and bring home POW/MIA remains.
Balancing the internship with academic responsibilities and personal commitments has been one of the biggest challenges so far, White explained. Support from friends, professors and employers has helped her navigate the demanding schedule. Looking ahead, White hopes the experience will aid her in her long-term goal of working with indigenous communities, particularly in cases involving missing and murdered women. White reflected,
Native women face murder at a rate more than 10 times the national average. My hope is that by working alongside Tours of Duty, I can raise awareness of these statistics.
She also pointed to the significant role Native Americans have played in military service in the United States, noting that Native American men represent one of the highest percentages of veterans among all ethnic groups. “Native Americans have served this country admirably and honorably time and again, and their service should be respected,” White said. “Just as no American hero shall be left behind, I believe that no Indigenous woman or child should be left behind either.”
Top Photo features Sophia White. Photo Submitted.
Sophia White, a first-year Honors student at Appalachian State University, sits outside holding a red graduation cap and gown while looking upward.
Sophia White, a first-year Honors student at Appalachian State University, sits outside holding a red graduation cap and gown while looking upward.