In 2015, Lesa Bolts-Krick moved to Boise to take advantage of the many educational opportunities offered by Boise State University. She was extremely nervous and uncertain about returning to college after an 18-year break. According to Lesa, “The best thing that happened was when my advisor sent me over to Veterans Upward Bound. I found a family in VUB!” Through Veterans Upward Bound, Lisa enrolled in classes designed to remediate her basic skills, learned about scholarships, and was able to network and develop friendships with other veterans and VUB staff.
Lesa, a non-traditional student veteran, completed a 24-year career in the U. S. Navy, joining shortly after high school graduation. She was one of the 1% assigned to a ship, a new option for females in the 1980’s. She completed tours in the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, North Atlantic, and Gitmo all in just four years! She decided to complete the rest of her service as a reservist, working 20 years in a cargo handling battalion which included one mobilization in 2007 during Iraqi Freedom.
Currently, Lesa is completing a Bachelor of Applied Science with a minor in gerontology. She is working at St. Luke’s as a physical therapist assistant and plans to continue her training towards a doctorate in physical therapy, specializing in aging and wellness.