Boise State veteran student leads ASCE chapter and supports military peers

Ezekiel King sits in the front row of the student section at Boise State University football games, face painted and wearing blue and orange overalls. At 28, King is a first-year student and a civil engineering major. He is also the president of the university’s student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers. King, a former Marine who spent four years building aviation ordnance on the East Coast, says he enjoys the role because it treats him as a peer among his classmates.

King graduated from high school in Seattle in 2014. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps instead of attending college, citing a desire to finish his schooling. After his military service ended, he returned to Seattle and enrolled in school in 2019. The shift to remote learning during the global pandemic did not suit him, so he left school and took various construction jobs. He eventually felt he had hit a career limit because he lacked a degree. King decided to return to school using his military GI Bill benefits.

His experience working with concrete led him to pursue civil engineering. He discovered Boise State and moved into the Honors College dorms. The dorms are located across the street from the Veterans Service Center, a university resource for military-connected students. King began spending time at the center to talk with other veterans. He found it easier to connect with older students who had similar life experiences rather than the 18- to 21-year-olds in his dorm. He later applied for a job at the center and now works there, helping veterans use their education benefits and adjust to campus life.

King says the center helps veterans who feel out of place in a new environment. He notes that many veterans miss the tight-knit community of military service. He encourages peers to join clubs and organizations to rebuild that sense of connection. King’s own involvement includes leading the ASCE student chapter. The group builds projects such as steel bridges and concrete canoes and competes at test events.

As ASCE president, King works on hands-on projects that go beyond typical design work. He helped build a 20-foot scale steel bridge for the Steel Bridge project. He also assists mechanical and electrical engineering majors with their senior and junior design projects. King uses available campus resources like welding equipment and a new laser etcher and cutter. He says this hands-on experience helps him become a more well-rounded engineer and allows him to network with future professional peers regardless of age.

Timothy Guill, a lecturer in history and university foundations, observed King during the semester. Guill is also a Marine Corps veteran. He said King built mutual respect through his openness. Guill noted that King’s willingness to engage across differences inspired other students to share perspectives on challenging topics. Guill said King’s supportive nature helped create a classroom culture that encouraged inquiry and personal growth.

King says the Veterans Service Center provides a place for veterans to find a home at Boise State. The center helps students navigate the VA benefits process, which King describes as not simple. He says having other veterans who have gone through the process helps students utilize the education benefits they earned. King believes integrating into school life is a critical step for veterans.

King attends every home football game to stay connected to the campus community. He brings other students, both older and younger, to cheer on the Broncos. He says the shared experience at the games helps him feel like just another student. He also values the academic resources available at Boise State, such as office hours and tutoring help. King says his military background taught him to figure things out on his own, making these structured supports more appreciated.

King recommends that veteran students get involved in campus organizations. He says being part of a group where students work and live together is a big part of military identity. He believes college can offer a similar structure. King encourages students of all ages to take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them. He says the perspective gained from military service helps him value his current role as a student.