COL Patricia Little-Upah, US Army, Retired, is our 2025 the Storyteller Award recipient for her extensive service in the military, civilian healthcare, and the veteran community, and for her ongoing support of our mission as an advocate and speaker. 

Pat first shared her story for the 2009 edition of Since You Asked. Pat served 30 years in the United States Army Nurse Corp, and another 18 years in civilian healthcare. In Vietnam she was stationed at the 93rd Evacuation Hospital at Long Bien, during the TET offensive. She then volunteered for the initial start-up of the 95th Evacuation Hospital outside of DaNang. In 1970 Pat left the military for ten years to start a family, returning to the Army Reserve in 1979. In 1991 she was reactivated and served with the 403rd Combat Support Hospital during Desert Storm as the Officer in Charge of the Enemy Prisoner of War units. Throughout her Military career she worked in various positions, including Commander of the 6253rd United States Army Reserve Hospital in Phoenix. 

Pat's civilian career includes emergency room, medical surgical, and behavioral health nursing, with the last decade culminating as the CEO for Banner Behavioral Health Hospital and The Wendy Paine O’Brian Treatment Center. During this time she was a key member of The Arizona Model for Alzheimers Care and Chair of The Maricopa County Hospital Emergency Management Committee.

Pat has received numerous civilian and military awards, including the Legion of Merit, YWCA Women in Leadership, The Pride of Tempe, and the Daughters of the American Revolution Distinguished Citizen Medal. Pat has served on boards for many healthcare and veteran causes, is past president of the Phoenix Chapter of MOWW, and is currently serving as the President for The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society, of which she was inducted as a member in 2014.

Karissa Wenzel is our 2025 Alumni Service Award recipient for her dedication to serve others and living the values learned from her veterans.  Karissa’s veterans made a powerful imprint on her character, inspiring her to live a life of honor.

Karissa attended Boulder Creek High School in Anthem for her junior and senior year, and immediately engaged with the program by interviewing three veterans. She supported editing and book layout, and served as her chapter’s historian.  Karissa received our 2019 Above and Beyond scholarship, and went to Grand Canyon University, graduating magna cum laude in 2023 from the Honors College with a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration.  She currently works at HonorHealth Cancer Care, and volunteers through her church as a coach for special needs children. 

Karissa’s veterans taught her dedication, strength, gratitude, reliance, adaptability, teamwork, empathy and most of all, integrity. “Integrity is the base of what empowers us to live out a greater purpose than ourselves.  Integrity is more than just doing what is right, it is fighting to do the right thing with the right intentions, even when no one is watching.  Being surrounded by veterans with this mentality was inspiring.  It’s about serving others and leaving a legacy for others who you may never see.  The legacy these veterans leave is endless.” 

Karissa grew up with a genetic condition which required her to undergo multiple surgeries, including leg and hip surgeries resulting in her having to wear a fixator for six months. This experience made her “realize how much strength and endurance veteran must have, and how much more they had to endure physically and emotionally while on deployments.” 

Karissa wants to make sure kids who may feel different, like she did when growing up, know how loved and special they are.  “Sometimes the world can cause us to perceive someone who acts or behaves in a different way as scary due to misunderstanding.  I want to advocate for these kids to be themselves.  Their differences are how they shine and what makes them special.  You shine the brightest when you stay true to yourself.”