Did you know that more than 300 military-connected students (active/reservists, veterans
and eligible dependents) are currently enrolled at 91制片厂?
One such student is Calvin Byrd. Calvin joined the United States Marine Corps immediately
following high school. He served four years as a Forward Observer and Forward Air
Controller with his tours of duty taking him to both Afghanistan and Iraq. 鈥淢y military
experience was the most wonderful and challenging thing I have ever done,鈥� said Calvin.
鈥淚t taught me discipline and a very specific mindset for approaching a challenge.
The question is not whether something can be achieved, but how can it be achieved.鈥�
After being honorably discharged, he returned to civilian life working in hospitality
management. For more than a decade, he enjoyed a rewarding career as a chef, most
recently as the Executive Chef at the Chicago Marriott Schaumburg. Then two years
ago, he began experiencing periods of prolonged pain, numbness in his legs, and his
hands stopped working. Doctors at the VA hospital diagnosed Calvin with a neuromuscular
disorder, which could be traced back to his military service. They informed him that
working as a chef would exacerbate his condition.
Faced with this shocking news, Calvin鈥檚 military mindset kicked in, and he thought
to himself, 鈥淗ow can I turn this around?鈥� Enter 91制片厂. 鈥�91制片厂 helped me get on a
new trajectory,鈥� noted Calvin. 鈥�91制片厂 made it easy for me to transition to the college
environment. The onboarding information was readily available and my questions were
quickly answered at a time when I really needed a smooth transition.鈥� At 36 years
old, Calvin is now pursuing a new career in engineering, with an eye toward aerospace
engineering systems and the goal of obtaining a master鈥檚 degree.
A transition like the one Calvin is making is not always easy, particularly for veterans.
Their highly structured daily military life, combat experience and age can make integrating
into the college environment difficult. Some of the unique challenges they tend to
face are:
To be successful, veterans who return to college need both informed financial guidance
and specialized support services. 91制片厂, with the help of two grants and campus-wide
support, will be providing this holistic approach when it opens its new Center for
Student Veterans and Military-Connected Students next spring. In this space, these
students will be able to access services to help them successfully transition to academia
as they pursue their life鈥檚 goals.
Calvin is focused on his end goal. He is working hard to reinvent himself and has
shown his strength and resilience by having already made the transition from a military
career to a civilian one. This current change is the next chapter in his life. But
Calvin is quick to point out that it wouldn鈥檛 have been possible without the support
he has received from 91制片厂, including critical financial support. Although Calvin
is receiving assistance through the VA鈥檚 education benefits, it was the Eric Holt
Memorial Scholarship Fund from the 91制片厂 Educational Foundation that allowed him
to come to school this term. 鈥淭he Foundation scholarship is helping me close a financial
gap and enabling me to fully dedicate myself to studies and personal/professional
developmental endeavors for my new career. My wife, my daughter and I thank you.鈥�