Decorated military veteran and transfer student Levi Medina brings a host of valuable real-world experiences to his sophomore year of studies at Occidental.
An active-duty Marine for over seven years who was deployed in the Pacific and the Middle East, Levi learned self-discipline, leadership skills, and teamwork during his military tenure.
When asked about the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal he received for exemplary services, he’s characteristically modest. “It was very humbling to be recognized,” Levi says. “I like to say that any award is not a recognition of self-effort. It’s recognition of the collective effort of your team and all that you accomplished together.”
A native Angeleno, Levi attended Los Angeles Valley College for a year before enlisting in the military. He always knew that he wanted to finish college and become the second person in his family to complete his four-year degree.
“My oldest brother, Earl [a graduate of Cal State Northridge], set the example, and it felt necessary for me to become more academically enriched as well,” he says. “I wanted to show my mom that I could do it, too.”
Levi plans to pursue a major in diplomacy and world affairs in pursuit of a career in the State Department. He also intends to participate in as many clubs as possible while at Oxy. “Occidental Run Club is healthy and fun. I want to play tennis and Ultimate Frisbee. The Mahjong Club sounds interesting. Hopefully by junior year, I’ll run for student office.”