“I was the first person in my family to ever graduate high school. Education has always been important to me. I was determined to be the first in my family to graduate high school, then college, and now I'm working on being the first to obtain a master’s degree.

“There were many obstacles including scheduling time to study and not being overwhelmed with everything going on in my life, but my program mentor was the nicest, most helpful, and encouraging person. I'm so thankful.

“One of the proudest moments of my life was seeing my name listed on my school’s website as the ‘Business and Technology teacher’.”

"My father and mother served in the United States Marine Corps and Navy, respectively. So military service was a part of my family and upbringing. I joined the Army because I could pick a career in information technology. I had responsibilities and going to a brick-and-mortar school before getting a job would not allow me to take care of my family properly. In 2006 I joined the Army and became a 25B Information Technology Specialist.

"Fast-forward 12 years and two deployments later I graduated from a local community college near Fort Lewis, WA. Career progression in the Army is very competitive and a college education is necessary in my job field. I did well and had great grades. I attribute that to the discipline and values the military instilled in me. But I was glad to be done because it took me five years to earn that degree. Taking three classes at a time and all the assessments and due dates made it hard for me to continue my education during deployments and missions."

If only I would have found WGU sooner. I wanted to stop going to school and give up on trying to reach my goal of getting a master's in IT, but WGU changed my mind. Not only did I complete my B.S. in Network Operations & Security at a faster pace with no deadlines and more flexibility, but WGU made me successful in the interim by allowing me to earn serval industry-recognized certifications that helped me get promoted and expanded my capabilities as I changed fields to cyber defense. WGU has made me a believer in higher education not being a waste of time, and I will be coming back to get my master’s degree from WGU. As a service member on active duty, my job can take me all over the world, and I could have unpredictable hours. But not once during my time at WGU was I unable to study around my family time with my wife and four kids or my missions. My classes were on my phone and any computer I had access to at any time. So, thank you WGU for supporting me while I support my country. WGU gave me freedom from the conventional classroom. WGU provided me the opportunity to be successful. There is nothing more American than freedom. Go Night Owls!”

“I am responsible for program deliverables, interface with the government, and directly supervise all program personnel. I am passionate about mentorship and professional development. What I enjoy most about my current position is the influence I have on others and their professional development.

“To further my career and stand out from my peers, I completed my Master of Science in Management and Leadership. I chose WGU for my graduate program because of the self-paced competency-based education. My job and lifestyle do not allow me to attend brick-and-mortar institutions because I spend a significant part of the year overseas, and WGU allowed me to use what I've learned throughout my career while building on the competencies I needed to succeed at my pace during my free time. My wife also attended WGU for her Master of Science in Nurse-Education. Watching her complete her courses and enjoy her experience was a huge factor in my decision process for choosing WGU. Because of my MSML completion, I am now next in line for a Program Manager position as my company acquires new contracts.

“My best experiences were my two mentors in my undergraduate and graduate programs. They were both positive influences on my journey through the programs, and I look forward to staying in contact with them. WGU mentors are passionate about their students and how their degree programs will change their lives. I have nothing but good things to say about my experience with WGU, and I look forward to the opportunities that will present themselves as a result of my hard work and educational accomplishments."