11
November
2019
|
10:45 AM
America/Chicago

Army vet ready to step into leadership

Student of the Week: Tony Aguilar

When it was time to protect his country South Texas College student Tony Aguilar went overseas and served in Afghanistan on active duty in the U.S. Army.

In 2017, when Hurricane Harvey brought damage, high water and distress to the Houston area Aguilar answered the call to serve again, this time to offer aid and security to fellow Texans as a member of the Texas Army National Guard.

“For me, serving is an honor because my father served, my grandfather served and I served,” Aguilar said. “I wanted to follow tradition and I always heard my relatives speak highly of the military and I wanted to continue the family history of serving.”

Now Tony is serving himself as a bachelor’s student at STC.

He is slated to earn his degree in organizational leadership in 2020.

The Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership helps students focus on skills that will help prepare for a position of leadership in business, government, non-profit, or educational organizations.

Aguilar works for the government in agriculture and decided to come to STC to advance his career.

“I've always had it in my mind that I wanted to have a formal education,” Aguilar said. “For me, getting my degree at STC gives me the opportunity to further my career. I work with the USDA and I want to further my career within the organization. And I feel this is the best way to do it.”
Student of the Week Tony Aguilar

“I've always had it in my mind that I wanted to have a formal education,” Aguilar said. “For me, getting my degree at STC gives me the opportunity to further my career. I work with the USDA and I want to further my career within the organization. And I feel this is the best way to do it.”He took advantage of resources offered by the Office of Student Veterans Affairs like the Fox Hole, a veterans’ student lounge and study room offered at the Pecan, Starr and Mid Valley campuses.

“Since I started here back in 2015, I first came to the veterans’ center because I was lost,” Aguilar admitted. “I had done some school online while I was serving, but a traditional, in-classroom, course was a new thing to me.”

He said assistance from veterans’ affairs staff such as Coordinator of Veterans Recruitment and Engagement Claire Forrester has aided his journey.

“Everybody is there helping each other out, which gives the veteran the opportunity to pursue that goal and help him continue on the right path,” Aguilar said.

His message to perspective students who may also be coming out of the armed forces is to go for it.

“I would say come back to school and take advantage of all the benefits that you have,” Aguilar said. “We take so many shots in the military, so many opportunities to do different things. Why not try one that will improve your career?”