Outstanding Student: Matthew Lee, Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps

Matthew Lee was selected as the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps 2024 Outstanding Student. His training as a civil engineering major and naval science minor saw him selected for his “dream job” and feels his “dream school” has set him up to do well.

During high school, Lee earned the NROTC Four-Year National Scholarship. His tuition to SDSU would be covered and he would get a monthly stipend.

“This scholarship has also allowed me to pursue and achieve my dream job of being a Naval Officer, specifically, a Submarine Officer,” Lee said. “To get to my dream job, I had to do summer training every year, also covered by the scholarship.”

In the summers, Lee had opportunities to be onboard submarines and fly helicopters. He even spent two months in Morocco learning Arabic. There have been no breaks for Lee during the school year either.

“My second and third years were especially hard as I was averaging 20 credits a semester in engineering, had lacrosse practice late at night every day, and very early wake-ups for NROTC in the mornings,”

But, Lee knows these experiences will give him the skills he will need in the future:

“These especially stressful times in my life have made me much more disciplined and have prepared me for my future career as I learned to prioritize certain aspects of my life, manage my time, and not procrastinate.