KEARNEY Brandi Mayer celebrated the start of a new semester in a place a world away from the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus.

Dressed in U.S. Army fatigues, the 28-year-old aviation operations specialist posed for a back-to-school photo at a military base in the Middle East, where shes currently stationed with the Minnesota National Guards 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade.

Mayer and nearly 700 other soldiers from the St. Paul-based unit deployed in September as part of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve. Their job is to provide helicopter, unmanned aerial system and fixed-wing support for U.S. and coalition forces, including reconnaissance, transportation and medical evacuation, while partnering with active-duty, National Guard and Reserve soldiers from several other states.

When Mayer isnt organizing air mission requests, shes focusing on her studies as a graduate student pursuing a masters degree in Spanish education.

A Spanish teacher and girls basketball coach at Fillmore Central High School in her native Minnesota, Mayer enrolled in UNKs online Master of Arts in Education program last summer. Shes currently taking her second and third classes while stationed overseas.

Mayer has served in the Army National Guard for nearly five years, and this is her first deployment. The 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade is scheduled to return home this fall.

Why did you enlist in the Army National Guard?

I enlisted after completing my bachelors degree to realize a dream Ive had since I was about 14 years old. It wasnt until this time in my life that I was able to make that dream become a reality. My goals in terms of what I want to accomplish within the National Guard have changed since my enlistment, but it has been an experience I wouldnt have gotten anywhere else.

As a teacher, why is it important to pursue a masters degree?

I decided to pursue a masters degree in Spanish education to better my ability within the Spanish language, as well as to better my ability to educate the students in my classroom. My students mean so much to me, and I want to be the best teacher they could possibly have. I am also very self-driven to be the best I can be at everything I do, and this is one way I am able to better myself.

How did you learn about UNKs online masters program?

I found the UNK program while doing online research into graduate-level programs. I was specifically looking for a program that

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Stationed in the Middle East, UNK student pursuing master's degree through online program - Kearney Hub