Tyler Mason: Student veteran of the month

“The military taught me many things and will always be a part of who I am,” says Tyler Mason, senior in mechanical engineering.

Tyler Mason served in the U.S. Army as an infantryman for four years. His job was mechanized infantry with duties that included being a grenadier, sniper, squad-designated marksman, Humvee driver and .50-cal machine gunner, providing personal security for senior officers.

During his time in the service, the specialist (E-4) was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Parachutist Badge, Driver Badge and Expert Marksmanship Badge (rifle). Mason completed a deployment to Baghdad and Baqubah, Iraq.

“I enlisted in the Army to serve my country, pay for my education and to travel,” Mason said. “The military taught me many things and will always be a part of who I am.”

Mason transferred to UIC in 2012 from Los Angeles City College after graduating with an associate’s degree in engineering. He will graduate this December with his bachelor’s in mechanical engineering.

Mason (left) served as an infantryman in Iraq.

Mason is president of the Student Veterans Association. He was president of the UIC chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the structural lead for the Design/Build/FlyTeam. Mason is a member of the Veteran Integration to Academic Leadership and has a work-study position in the UIC Office of Student Veterans Affairs.

“UIC has not only provided me with excellent education, but has also given me multiple opportunities of professional development, such as student leadership roles and undergraduate research,” he said.

His work with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has instilled in him an interest in design.

“I plan on becoming a design engineer to foster that passion and acquire the knowledge necessary to start an engineering design company,” he said.

• Aneta Murphy is vice president of the UIC Student Veterans Association.