From Terry Russell: “Brian enjoys using and applying his newly learned skills and lessons from his psychology courses to help lead his assigned veteran-students within the PAVE Program. Brian always makes himself available to the veteran population both during school hours and after too. You could say Brian is living the PAVE lifestyle and making himself a living resource to guide those he is responsible for within the program. Brian uses many of the basic Marine Corps leadership traits and characteristics to help shape the success of the new incoming veteran-students.”

From Brian Garcia-Cardona, Co-Team Leader: “As a Team Leader, any accomplishment is one to be proud of. However, being able to assist veterans and their dependents who require immediate assistance is my pride and joy. Training and helping my team provide the most optimal service to our community makes me proud to be a Team Leader. As a team, we ensure we take each student through the proper steps, answer any questions, and guide them through their efforts to enter their academic journey. New students are often confused about how to obtain their benefits and prepare for school. As advisors, we take off most of the weight for the students to alleviate the stress of confusion. One of my favorite parts of being a team leader is being part of a fantastic team. My team’s most vital attribute is communication. Being part of a team that hits the ground running when they come to work, communicating any challenges encountered in a day, and knowing we are making a difference are all great reasons why I love being a team leader.”