My Why: Jesse Urbina-Gil

When his laser printer comes to a stop, 27-year-old veteran and Jessup alumni Jesse Urbina-Gil steps back and inspects his work — a solid wood plaque, bearing the name, degree and graduation year of a fellow Jessup veteran student, soon to be a graduate. Turn it over and the back displays words of appreciation from University President, Dr. John Jackson. These plaques carry more than just words, they carry a legacy steeped in commitment and sacrifice.

For Urbina-Gil, crafting the plaques isn’t just a side hustle. It’s a way to give back and recognize veterans who have served missions rooted in honor, memory and the bond of brotherhood. In the last year, he has crafted over 1,000 plaques including those handed out at Jessup’s commencement ceremony while others were sent around the world.  

After serving five years in the United States Marine Corps, including a deployment to Kuwait in the Middle East then to Djibouti in East Africa, Urbina-Gil decided it was time to begin a new chapter. He left the military, enrolled at Yuba College and earned his associates degree in computer science. Making the transition to civilian life wasn’t easy coming from a highly structured, mission-driven environment to a place where there is no chain of command or orders to follow. That aside, one thing was sure, Urbina-Gil knew he wanted to earn his bachelor’s degree.

Enrolling at Jessup as a result of attending his cousin’s commencement ceremony (also at Jessup), Urbina-Gil knew it was the right place for him. “That ceremony gave me a huge glimpse into what Jessup stands for,” he said. “It literally demonstrated to me the kinds of values the University upholds and I wanted to be part of that.” Coming to Jessup also helped reestablish his faith. “I was looking for a way to reconnect and help me regain my spiritual journey which had slowed somewhat in the military. Being at Jessup helped me remember there is a higher purpose for my life.” 

Earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration just last May, he is currently employed with Tri Counties Bank as a business project analyst, a job that resulted from an internship he did with the company. There he manages IT projects for all 68 branches from upgrading computer and phone systems to managing online account tools to automating specific deposit operation tasks. 

While a student at Jessup, Urbina-Gil had the opportunity to participate in the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation’s (JMMF) ocean therapy weekend, a program offered to veterans to help manage anxiety and depression often associated with their time in the service. The experience brings Jessup’s veteran community closer together, allowing students to form bonds that continue to lift one another up, even after graduation. “This past summer was my second time with JMMF and it was even better than our first experience,” he said. “It helps us foster these relationships which makes a difference when we connect again at the Veterans Resource Center or at other events on campus.”

Even though Urbina-Gil has graduated, he is still passionate about his involvement in the Jessup Warrior Brigade, a dedicated giving society committed to providing sustainable support for the Jessup veteran community known as the Warrior Battalion. As a member of the Jessup Veterans Council, he is shaping the impact of the Brigade. With gratitude and renewed purpose, Urbina-GIl now walks Jessup’s campus not in search of healing, but to help other veteran students find their own.

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