Two United States military veterans and brand-new CSUN graduates were honored during the university’s Veterans Resource Center Graduation Celebration on May 19. Elayna Bisby and Art Garcia each were awarded $1,000 scholarships, as part of the center’s Outstanding Graduating Veteran Awards.

Bisby ’22 (Communication Studies) is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where she served as a C-130 aircraft engine and propeller mechanic. She started working with other veterans as a student at Pasadena City College and continued at CSUN’s Veterans Resource Center.

“I’m trying to stay within that field, to help other veterans as they transition out of military service and into academic life,” Bisby said.

Garcia ’15 (Management), MBA ’22 (Business Administration) is a veteran of the U.S. Army. He served as a PATRIOT launching station operator-maintainer, in the 108th Air Defense Artillery brigade under the 18th Airborne Corps. He is vice president and one of the co-founders of CSUN’s Veterans Alumni Association chapter, and outgoing president of the CSUN Student Veteran Organization. Garcia said he wanted to help other veterans connect on campus, as his own return to school was a difficult transition.

“I was a little bit older, so coming back was definitely a challenge,” Garcia said. “Getting together with other veterans, I was able to advance and get through it.”

The Veterans Resource Center supports veterans, reservists and members of the National Guard as they transition from military service to academic life. The Outstanding Graduating Veteran Awards are funded by private donations.