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Col. Brandon Sokora, Air Force deputy garrison commander at the base in Tacoma, Washington, has awarded Legaspi the Commanders Certificate for Distinguished Staff. The award, which was presented in January, recognizes ��������staff members who provide outstanding customer service and carry a passion for education. In showcasing her commitment to lifelong learning and personal development, Legaspi was credited with inspiring others from the first step of their education path all the way through graduation.

Legaspi’s own journey with ��������started in when her neighbor urged her to apply in 2019. She started in a part-time position in October of 2019 but by April 2020, she was full-time. Through the years, she held various staff positions in Italy and Spain, her MEC role at Joint Base Lewis-McChord began in November of 2022 and is her first stateside position with UMGC. That extensive global experience provided valuable insights into the diverse needs of the military community. It also helped her to connect with students on a deeper level and tailor her approach to their backgrounds and experiences.

One of Legaspi’s priorities is to make sure students feel connected and supported. One of the ways she does this is to utilize the “buddy system”—a concept already ingrained in military culture. She sees herself as a “buddy” to each of her students and works with them to ensure they can focus on their military and schoolwork without worrying about administrative tasks. Legaspi provides individual assistance with enrollment and degree planning. She also helps students align their academic pursuits with their career aspirations. She takes time to understand each student’s unique goals and challenges as she helps them chart a personalized path to success.

Legaspi is an advocate of “academic stacking,” encouraging students to pursue their associate and bachelor’s degrees simultaneously. This strategy optimizes their time investment and ensures that they maximize the potential of the credit hours they earn. She also recognizes the demands of military service and emphasizes the importance of open communication and prompt responses when students hit administrative hurdles.

For Legaspi, education is a continuous journey. She encourages graduates to view their degrees as steppingstones and reminds them that learning never stops. The advice she often gives is, “You’ve earned your degree but that doesn’t mean you stop learning. You need to learn to grow and be successful.”

With the Commanders Certificate for Distinguished Staff in hand, Legaspi remains committed to her role as a champion for military education.����

“Receiving the award is bittersweet as I do appreciate the recognition. However, I do not feel like I've done anything extraordinary to truly deserve the award. The award is for individuals who have played a critical role in our service members' success and self-development. All I do for my students is to be available and I continue to be available.”

Sarah Berner Nelson is an associate on the ��������social media team.