Today@Sam Article
Transfer Student Ray Yates Improvises, Adapts and Overcomes
June 12, 2019
SHSU Media Contact: Wes Hamilton
The road to a college degree is unique to every student. There are challenges along the way that everyone will face, from academics to financial aid and more. However, the most dedicated Bearkats are able to improvise, adapt and overcome to make any situation seem simple. Transfer student Ray Yates epitomizes those qualities in and out of the classroom.
Yates, a senior healthcare administration major, has a unique transfer story, as he is also a United States Marine Corps veteran.
“I began college right out of high school,” Yates said. “But decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. After serving five years, I left my last duty station in Hawaii, moved back to Houston in December of 2017 and started at Sam Houston State in January of 2018.”
Yates served as an intelligence analyst and was stationed in Hawaii under the command of the 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines. During his time in the service, he went on two forward deployments to Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.
“The months leading up to the move, I was in heavy contact with the Veterans Resource Center to help make everything as smooth as possible,” Yates said. “If it was not for the help of the Veterans Resource Center, and the help of the ever-friendly staff, my transition would not have been as smooth. I am very thankful for all of the help.”
Now at SHSU, he is president of the Collegiate Veterans Association. The CVA is an organization built to advocate, unite, inform and empower all student veterans, no matter where they have deployed. Veterans of all branches, family members and supporters of the U.S. armed forces are welcomed. Yates explained that the many organizations he is a part of helped aid in his transition to SHSU.
“SHSU is in the top 20 percent of veteran friendly schools in the nation, we have a lot of resources that other universities do not,” Yates said. “For instance, the Veterans Resource Center and the Collegiate Veterans Association.”
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