(Santa Ana, Calif.) After retiring from the Marine Corps, Kevin Reyes faced one of the toughest transitions of his life. Reyes was navigating shifting from military to civilian life while battling addiction.
Now a Human Services major at Santa Ana College (SAC), Reyes is rebuilding his life with a renewed mission: to support fellow veterans and help others overcome their personal struggles, just as he has.
Reyes has been awarded a $12,000 scholarship from the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 291, which he will receive on May 30 at SAC Foundation’s Scholarship Award Celebration. Reyes plans to transfer to Cal State Fullerton to complete his bachelor’s in Human Services, with the ultimate goal of earning a master’s degree from USC. “I’m passionate about helping people,” Reyes shared. “Human Services has given me the tools to help others. Volunteering with veterans, working with Rising Scholars, and speaking on panels has allowed me to apply what I’ve learned, while continuing my own healing.”
What inspired you to pursue Human Services?
“I’ve seen firsthand how hard it is to come back from war, from addiction. I want to use my experiences to guide others through their own recovery and healing.” Reyes credits programs like Veterans Treatment Court and SAC’s Veteran Resource Center (VRC) for helping him stay focused. “The VRC made me feel supported from day one. They answered every question, helped me through the paperwork, and gave me the push I needed when I started doubting myself.” As a Latino veteran, Reyes says his cultural identity shapes how he leads. “I’ve been taught the value of hard work, loyalty, and family. That’s how I show up every day.”
Mark Canett, Student Services Coordinator and Reyes’ mentor and now a close friend, shared how he has seen Reyes grow. “When Kevin first enrolled and began taking classes at SAC, he was a little uncertain and intimidated by all the moving pieces; GI Bill benefits, Financial Aid, registering for classes along with being a nontraditional student, both a veteran and being 47 years old,” said Canett. “But after he was able to complete his first semester, he was over that hump and I knew he was successfully on the path to completing this leg of his educational journey.”
What does receiving the scholarship from the American Legion Auxiliary mean to you?
“To me, it’s more than just financial help, it’s recognition. It shows that the work I’ve been doing in my recovery, in my education, and in helping others, matters. It motivates me to keep building a future for my family and the people I hope to serve.”
What does success look like to you?
“Success to me isn’t about money or status, it’s about making a real difference, being there for my family, and continuing to heal while living with a purpose. After everything I’ve been through, I want my experience to inspire others and to leave a legacy my kids can be proud of.”
Mark Canett adds, “As the staff knows, Reyes has recently completed Veteran Treatment Court. In his personal life, he is dedicated to his family and now his sobriety. He has been sober for two years now, and I am immensely proud that he has had the courage to continue on that path. He is well respected by his peers in the center and brings positivity, a great sense of humor and is an example to our younger veterans. He is known as “Gunny” to his fellow veterans.”
What advice would you give your younger self or someone that is currently experiencing similar things that you did?
“You don’t have to carry the weight alone. Numbing the pain doesn’t make it go away, it just delays the healing. To anyone going through addiction, regret, feeling lost, you are not too far gone. It’s not easy but it’s worth it. You still have time to become someone you are proud of.”
