August 16, 2016
Mesa College was Next Step for Marine Vet Calvin Dixon
By San Diego Community College District
Calvin Dixon left the U.S. Marine Corps in July 2014 and followed the path of approximately
10,000 other active and retired military members, he attended college in the San Diego
Community College District. By August of that year, he was a full-time student at
San Diego Mesa College. For good reason.
“I really enjoy the small class sizes, and every professor I’ve had has had open office
hours so if you’re struggling you could just drop in and get all the help and support
you need,” said Dixon, who is studying mechanical engineering and works part time
as an aircraft mechanic at Naval Air Station North Island. “There are a lot of resources,
and the large numbers of veterans help make you feel right at home.”
From Coast to Coast
Dixon enlisted in the Marine Corps out of high school in part to help fund his college
education. He was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and Miramar as a C-130 aircraft mechanic
during his more than five years with the Marine Corps and decided to remain in San
Diego after he completed his service.
One of Mesa’s biggest draws was the district’s commitment to veterans and their success.
“I spend a lot of time at the Veterans Resource Center, and a lot of people I come
across at the VRC transfer to some really good schools like Columbia, Stanford, Berkeley,
some of the best schools in the country, and that shows me that Mesa is a wonderful
college,” he said.
Not only that, but Mesa – along with City and Miramar colleges and San Diego Continuing
Education – was named a Military Friendly school.
Branching Out
Dixon is looking at transferring to San Diego State University, the most popular destination
for students transferring from the San Diego Community College District. Four district
students – three from San Diego City College and one from San Diego Miramar College
– were awarded a prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarships
worth up to $40,000 annually to complete a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college
or university.
“I made a good decision coming here,” said Dixon.
Tags: Veterans, Featured Posts, Calvin Dixon, Veteran Affairs, Students in the News
