Brielle Meyer

Cleghorn, who served 17 years in the military, including 10 and a half years of active duty, received his diploma during fall 2024 commencement ceremonies.

^{Photo credit: Ferris State University}

Note: This is a story I wrote for WZZM 13 in January of 2025. The original can be found here.

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — After four deployments to Iraq and a battle with PTSD, Charles “Chuck” Cleghorn has transformed his personal struggles into a mission to help others, graduating summa cum laude from Ferris State University with a Bachelor of Social Work degree.

Cleghorn, who served 17 years in the military, including 10 and a half years of active duty, received his diploma during fall 2024 commencement ceremonies.

His journey to academic success began after he overcame some mental health struggles. Cleghorn said he chose to enter active duty after the 9/11 attacks. Eventually, he was given medical retirement from the military due to a traumatic brain injury.

Following intensive inpatient treatment near Chicago for PTSD and suicidal thoughts, Cleghorn started rebuilding his life in Traverse City and began his journey of academic success.

“My counselor was a godsend, as she suggested I act immediately and enter inpatient care,” Cleghorn said. “I was accepted for treatment at a facility near Chicago, and in my two and a half months there, I was able to, as we say in the military, ‘Get my rucksack unloaded.’ There was more counseling ahead for me, but because I made that choice, I was well on my way to dealing with my trauma.”

Upon his return to Traverse City, Cleghorn found a desire to contribute to society actively.

“I wanted to work,” Cleghorn said. “I have always enjoyed outdoor sports and had been a customer at Shooters Outfitters and Indoor Range in ‘TC.’ I know Bill Frett, the manager, and Dan Griffin, the owner, really helped build my confidence by taking me on as an employee. Their help and support allowed me to develop beyond that interest in the outdoors, which meant a great deal.”

Beyond working though, he wanted to do more. And so he began investing in himself through learning.

He started with a single class at Northwestern Michigan College during the COVID-19 pandemic, which evolved into full-time studies. He sought his Associate of Applied Science in Social Work.

“It all grew out of my desire to do more,” he said.

He went on to complete his bachelor’s degree through Ferris State’s Student Success Hub in Traverse City, where he said small class sizes and dedicated professors helped foster his academic growth.

During his studies, Cleghorn completed two internships, including one with Goodwill-Northern Michigan where he worked to support the homeless population in the Traverse City area.

His capstone experience at Addiction Treatment Services led to his first professional role as an integrated care coordinator, where he still works.

“My assignment was to assist the staff of Addiction Treatment Services in a recovery home,” Cleghorn said. “I met with those struggling with their addiction, helping them to meet personal schedules and keep up with their treatment. Now, I am part of that staff as an integrated care coordinator, being involved in peer support to build client resumes, help them to secure housing and receive assistance from state government and their insurers. I have had a great and formative experience with them.”

In January, Cleghorn will join the staff of the Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis and Access Center, a new facility set to provide round-the-clock crisis support by July 2025. He plans to pursue a Master of Social Work degree at the University of Michigan starting next fall.

“It was Dory in ‘Finding Nemo’ who had ‘Just Keep Swimming’ as the key to her perseverance,” Cleghorn said. “I barely graduated high school; since I was a good baseball player with prospects of playing in college, earning that diploma may not have been all my doing. I chose to go to the military and wound up facing horrors that had a significant impact on me.

To find my path after such a long time showed me through hard work and determination, you can overcome so many obstacles, even with a traumatic brain injury. Everyone along the way had a hand in my success, from the staff at the writing centers in college to my peers reviewing my essays and contributions from so many educators and professionals. Anyone can use these resources, and I am so excited to have that team add so much to my college education. People tell me ‘Thank you’ all the time, and I know I should be thanking them because they made such valuable contributions to my success.”