Grad Stories '17: Veterans Lead Way for Families

U.S. Navy veteran Jose Lara is setting an example for his children.

U.S. Army and National Guard veteran Donald Harvey is blazing a trail for his twin brother, Dave.

Both are among 14 military veterans and one currently active member of the Iowa National Guard who received St. Ambrose degrees on Saturday at the RiverCenter in Davenport.

Lara is graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education Teacher Education.

The father of three served in the Navy from 1996-98 and enlisted in the GI Bill shortly after his return to civilian life to pursue a degree in criminal justice. A promotion at work and a growing family led him to leave school, but it was the same growing family that led him to St. Ambrose.

Already an avid recreational softball player, he began coaching his daughters' teams and, in the process, discovered a latent passion and calling.

"I fell in love with teaching young kids," he said. "When I was giving instruction to children, I got lost in it. Somebody told me, ‘You're a pretty good coach. Why don't you look into teaching."'

He did — and he never looked back.

Although he continued as an assistant coach at Pleasant Valley (Iowa) High School, Lara left his day job to become a full-time student, sometimes studying alongside daughter Jasmine, now a college student herself, and Alexia and son Jose Jr., while wife and mother Michele Bennett-Lara, also a Navy veteran, worked, paid the bills and earned an MBA through Northwestern University.

"I wanted to be a full-time student, wanted to finish and get my career started," he said. "I wanted to be a role model for my kids. Even though they saw me struggle with being a parent and not a normal student, I wanted them to see that it can be done."

Lara became head coach of the PVHS softball team a year ago and led them to the state tournament last June. He will continue in that role while pursuing a fulltime teaching job following commencement.

Harvey took advantage of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

He completed automotive repair program through a technical school prior to that. He hopes to use the BBA degree to build an automotive repair business of his own.

"When I decided to pursue a bachelor's degree, St. Ambrose just seemed to be the right place for me," he said. "The smaller class sizes seemed more personal."

Twin brother Dave is graduating this month from Scott Community College and will enroll in St. Ambrose's ACCEL adult degree program himself next month.

"They have been cheerleaders for each other to keep going and complete their degrees," SAU Academic Adviser Laura Harrison said. "And because of the experience Don has had at SAU, Dave is now coming in January."

Other veterans who earned degrees Saturday include:

• William Holdorf, Doctor of Business Administration, U.S. Marine Corps
• David Ceasor, Master of Organizational Leadership
• Ronald Ferrill, Master of Organizational Leadership, U.S. Army Reserve
• Tim Gray, Master of Business Administration, U.S. Army Reserves
• Andrew Martens, Master of Business Administration, U.S. Army National Guard
• Audrey Van, Master of Accounting
• Justin Bennett, Bachelor of Science Human Performance and Fitness, U.S. Army National Guard
• Laura Cintron, Bachelor of Business Administration, U.S. Army
• Jamanthony Houston, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, currently serving in the Iowa National Guard
• Ryan Mitchell, cum laude, Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics, U.S. Air Force
• Cecilia Nichols, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, U.S. Army
• Diana Potter, Bachelor Science in Nursing, U.S. Air Force
• Joshua Stanger, Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Psychology, U.S. Air Force

Each received a medal honoring their educational achievement from the St. Ambrose Office of Veterans Recruitment and Services. Seven participated in a medaling ceremony on Dec. 11.