Veteran’s Day Student Spotlight
Veterans Day Celebrates Our Military Students
The G.I. Bill, officially known as the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, has long been a gateway for U.S. military veterans to pursue higher education across the country. At Gaston College, this tradition began when the school opened in 1964 and continues today.
Matthew Bivens, a Lincolnton native who has served two tours in Afghanistan, exemplifies this tradition. He’s been “fast-tracking” his way to a two-year degree at Gaston College, showcasing the determination that many veterans bring to their educational pursuits.
Enrolling in summer 2023, Bivens is on track to graduate this December with an Associate in Arts degree. However, he doesn’t plan to stop there. As part of the 49erNext transfer admission guarantee program, he’s already been accepted to UNC Charlotte. He’ll transfer his credits from Gaston and begin work there in January to complete a bachelor’s in finance.
“I’ve been going to Gaston since last summer, and I’ve been fast-tracking by going in the summer, spring, fall and summer, spring and fall,” Bivens said. “I’m 35 years old now. And if I were to tell anybody anything, it’s that it’s never too late to go to school. Gaston College has really shown me a path to reach my career goal. Once I got out of the army, I had a few jobs and found out how hard it was without a college degree. It’s essential to have that degree.”
Bivens isn’t alone in his journey. He’s one of hundreds of veterans attending Gaston College each semester, part of a vibrant community of those who have served our country and are now serving themselves through education.
Darren Stewart, Gaston College’s Coordinator of Veterans Affairs Resources, provides some context: “We have about 120 certified veterans as full-time students each semester and more than 100 more veterans take classes on a part-time basis each semester that do not use benefits.”
Stewart speaks highly of Bivens: “Matthew is really a great guy and a great student. He’s real driven and very focused on what he needs to do.
“My job here is to help the veterans process their benefits. During the course of that, if they need things that the school can’t provide, I have other contacts like the Vet Council of Gastonia. We have guys who work with the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), the American Legion and the Honor Guard, so there’s a whole group of folks to help veterans out.”
Bivens’ journey to Gaston College wasn’t a straight line. Growing up in Lincolnton, he attended Lincoln Charter School and Huntersville’s SouthLake Christian, graduating in 2007. From there, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer.
“I went straight to sapper school once I got out of basic training when I was 18,” Bivens said of his training at Fort Leonard Wood in St. Robert, Mo. “Once I did that, I went to third infantry division for around six years (at Fort Stewart Hunter in Hinesville, Ga.) and did two tours in Afghanistan.”
During his tours – in 2009-2010 and again in 2012-2013 – Bivens’ job was route clearance and finding buried bombs, a task that requires immense courage and skill.
After returning home in 2014, the married father of two moved to Lake Wylie, S.C., and began work in construction and golf course maintenance in the Charlotte area. Now, he’s building a new future at Gaston College, proving that with determination and the right support, it’s never too late to pursue your dreams.
