October 1, 2024

Growing up in a military family that enjoyed skydiving, Steve Combs followed in his father’s footsteps by enlisting in the US Army as an Airborne Tactical Field Wiring Expert. He enjoyed serving in Desert Strom in the 1990s and was later recalled to serve in Enduring Freedom in the 2000s. Steve always had a penchant for learning and helping others but found it challenging to carve out a fitting career path.

Like many servicemembers, Steve struggled for years to find a suitable job that could utilize his unique military training. He worked in telemarketing, sales, and bonded courier services. Steve had always wanted to return to college for a long time, but his past debts made this desire difficult. Then, in 2021, he was notified that the government had forgiven his old student loans, and he immediately enrolled at Saint Paul College to pursue a History Transfer Pathway. He laughs as he shares that he is older than all his teachers but still not too old to keep learning!

Steve’s interest in US history has helped him move closer to his goal of writing a historical fiction book about the Buffalo Soldiers. The Buffalo Soldiers were a black military unit in the 9th and 10th Calvary established in 1866 and lasted until desegregation in 1944. Some may recognize Buffalo Soldier as a Bob Marley song with the opening lyrics:

“There was a Buffalo Soldier in the heart of America. Stolen from Africa, brought to America. Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival.”
–Bob Marley, 1983

Believing we can learn much from our past, Steve shared the story of the Buffalo Soldiers and other historical movements on the campus during Black History Month in February 2022. He enjoys serving other students and is a Peer Mentor for the SPC ILEAD Fellowship program, a valuable resource for new students, helping them connect to the campus learning environment. ILEAD is an acronym for the pillars of the program: Identity, Leadership, Excellence, Accountability, and Dedication. Guided by a strong passion for helping other students, Steve wants to express these sentiments with all SPC students:

“Know what you want to do, and understand your limitations. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help!”
–Steve Combs, SPC History Student & Military Veteran

See Steve talk about the ILEAD program: