WKU News

Student veteran Ariel Lopez served four years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps, deploying to Bahrain, Pakistan, Kuwait, Guam, Hawaii and Japan. As an artillery team leader, he served the country as a section chief in charge of 10 to 12 Marines. 

When Lopez’s time in the military ended in late 2023, his time as a student began just months later. As a Finance major, Lopez assists veterans and the military-connected community at WKU with their finances as a Coaching Program Coordinator at the Center for Financial Success (CFS) sponsored by Abound Credit Union.

“I was inspired to join the military because of the honor it would bring to my immigrant family and my love for the USA. However, I also knew it would give me great leadership skills I could apply to the civilian workforce afterward,” Lopez said.

Lopez explained that his time in the military taught him discipline, time management and accountability. “Those skills have helped me balance college, multiple jobs and family responsibilities. Most importantly, the Marine Corps taught me to stay committed and push through challenges, even when things get difficult.”

When facing challenges, having a supportive family and community can help. In addition to his supportive wife, Lopez quickly found a supportive military community at WKU. He said Military Student Services and Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) helped him immensely with his transition from the military to college.

Lopez said, “Their support made a huge difference in my experience, and it's something I've never forgotten. Since then, I've made it a priority to give back and help other veterans attending WKU navigate that same transition.”

“I chose WKU because of its strong military-connected community and the support it offers veterans transitioning into higher education,” Lopez said.

As mentioned earlier, Lopez serves as a Coaching Program Coordinator with the Center for Financial Success, and he also completed a banking internship with German American Bank.

“At the Center for Financial Success, I've had the opportunity to help fellow students and veterans with their finances while also developing my leadership skills as a Coaching Program Coordinator,” he said. “My internship with German American Bank gave me valuable hands-on experience in the banking industry and allowed me to apply what I've learned in the classroom to real-world situations. Both experiences have helped me grow professionally and confirmed my passion for helping others.”  In August, he was honored with the Alumnus of the Year award from Veterans Upward Bound.

Lopez will graduate from WKU on December 11, 2026. He plans to pursue a career in commercial banking, operations management, or a client-facing leadership role.

“My finance education at WKU has given me a strong foundation in business and financial decision-making, while my military experience has taught me leadership, discipline, and how to perform under pressure. I hope to combine both experiences in a career where I can build relationships, lead teams and make a positive impact on the people and organizations I work with,” Lopez said.