Trenton Hicks- From the Army to Stanford University!
Full Name: Trenton Hicks
Anticipated graduation year? 2023
Hometown: Pinckneyville, Illinois
Fun Fact About Yourself? I have never watched Star Wars.
Intended Major: Economics
What did you do in the military? I worked as a signals intelligence analyst and collector for the 3rd Special Forces Group of the U.S. Army.
What was your proudest accomplishment in the military? I am most proud of having the honor to provide intelligence support to members of the special operations community on multiple deployments.
How did you hear about S2S? My former assistant team leader told me about S2S in 2017. He instructed me to utilize S2S when it came time for me to transition out of the Army.
What was the best part of S2S for you? My ambassador Daniel Borchik made my S2S experience extremely rewarding. He spent countless hours revising my essays and helping me navigate the college admissions process. I can directly correlate Dan’s tireless work and commitment to helping me gain admission to my dream school Stanford.
Why did you decide to pursue college? During my last two years in the Army, I knew that I wanted to leave the military to pursue other opportunities. A college education is a prerequisite to realize my career goals.
How has the transition been from the military to civilian life? It has been surprisingly easy, especially now that I know where I will be in the fall. I have been out of the Army for three weeks, and I am looking forward to the downtime to reconnect with old friends and spend time with family before I start school.
What are you most excited about in regard to starting college/ the school you are going to attend? I am looking forward to being surrounded by a brilliant and driven student body. I am interested in joining the Stanford Finance Club and possibly participating in club baseball. I have also never spent much time in California, so I am excited to experience all that the West Coast has to offer.
What is your favorite part about the school you chose to matriculate at? I love how Stanford has been able to pair world-class academics with top-notch athletics. I think that it’s a unique campus atmosphere that does not exist at other institutions.
What advice would you give to future applicants? I think the key to success is starting early and utilizing the resources available to the veteran community, such as Service to School and the Warrior Scholar Project. These organizations are a great help in getting people started in the right direction. Ultimately, it falls on the individual to make the most of these resources to ensure success. Also, do not be afraid to aim high because you might surprise yourself. I know I certainly did.
What are your goals post-graduation? I currently plan to pursue a career in finance.
