Past Fellows
The Travis Manion Foundation and The Mission Continues have worked closely together for the last three years. The Travis Manion Foundation fully funded 17 of the first 20 Fellowships and contributed more than $85,000 to support the The Mission Continues when it began.
Meet some of the Fellows we funded:
Ian Smith
St. Louis, MO
Ian Smith
Ian served a Mission Continues Fellowship to work with the Washington University (STL) Warren Brown School of Social Work and The Mission Continues. Ian served as an Intelligence Analyst in the US Army from 2000-2009. Ian deployed to Iraq in support of OIF twice during his military career. During his time in the desert, Ian was injured when a 120mm round landed near his position. Ian used his Fellowship to further his goals of working in the field of medicine with non-profit organizations.
Chad Watson
Port Barrington, IL
Chad Watson
Chad served a Mission Continues Fellowship to work with The Wounded Warrior Project. Chad served as an infantry team leader in the Marine Corps, during which he suffered from wounds resulting in a right leg amputation. With his disabilities he still continues to serve his community spreading the word to other disabled Veterans. While in grad school he would like to be in charge of the Student Veterans group. Chad hopes to find work in the government.
Jacob Wood
Los Angeles, CA
Jacob Wood
Jacob Wood served a Fellowship to further develop Team Rubicon, an immediate response element to international disaster areas. During his Fellowship, Jacob will establish a strong foundation for Team Rubicon to ensure future growth and financial stability. Jacob is a former Marine sniper who suffered two major orthopedic injuries. Deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan worsened these injuries. After separating from the military, Jacob identified the need for immediate response to international disaster areas.
Clay Hunt
Los Angeles, CA
Clay Hunt
Clay Hunt served a Fellowship to assist in the developent of Team Rubicon, an immediate response element to international disaster areas. Clay will be working alongside Jacob in building a firm foundation. He is hoping to eventually gain full time employment from Team Rubicon. Clay was a radio operator and observer on a sniper team in the Marine Corps. While deployed in Afghanistan, Clay was shot in the wrist from enemy sniper fire. Since Joining Team Rubicon he has been to both Haiti and Chile in relief efforts.
Jon Arnold Garcia
Austin, Texas
Jon Arnold Garcia
Jon Arnold served a Fellowship to continue his service by working as the Veterans Outreach Coordinator in Austin, TX. Through Jon Arnold's "Joint Task Force LBJ," Jon Arnold will bring together active duty military, veterans, and military supporters to conduct community service projects. While deployed in support of OIF, Jon Arnold suffered a right transtibal (below knee) amputation, as well as mild PTSD and TBI.
Steve Baskis
Chicago, Illinois
Steve Baskis
Steve Baskis served a full-time Fellowship to continue his service by establishing a Team River Runner chapter in Chicago, Il. By establishing a chapter of Team River Runner, Steve will provide the opportunity for other disabled veterans to gain confidence and the chance to inspire others. While deployed in support of OIF, Steve was injured when his convoy was struck by a roadside bomb causing permanent blindness.
Amanda Heindenreiter
Washington, DC
Amanda Heindenreiter
Amanda served a part-time Fellowship to continue her service by working with the Paws for Purple Hearts program. Amanda served in a mentoring capacity for new wounded warriors in transition, particularly those affected by PTSD and/or TBI. Amanda served as a captain in the U.S. Army and deployed in support of OIF.
Shawn Billiot
Bethesda, Maryland
Shawn Billiot
Shawn served a part-time Fellowship to continue his service by working with military members under the care of Navy Safe Harbor at Bethesda National Naval Medical Center. Shawn served in a peer mentoring capacity for convalescing marines and sailors there. Shawn suffered PTSD and TBI as a result of his deployment in support of OIF, where he served as a sergeant in the USMC.
Brandon Garrison
San Antonio, Texas
Brandon Garrison
Brandon Garrison served a full-time Fellowship to continue his service as a ground-breaking Fellow in the San Antonio area. Brandon worked to unite Veterans in his community while working with others to establish several Mission Continues programs. Brandon was formerly enlisted in the US Army where he sustained injuries from a fall while deployed to Afghanistan.
Michael Paul
Los Angeles, California
Michael Paul
Michael Paul served a full-time Fellowship to continue service at the Paralyzed Veterans of America office in Los Angeles, CA. He served as a mentor and source of encouragement to wounded and disabled Veterans. Michael is a former Army Airborne Ranger who suffered a spinal chord injury following a parachuting accident.
Ash Woolson
Columbus, Ohio
Ash Woolson
Ash Woolson used his Fellowship to work on the Veteran's projects currently in progress and incorporated these projects in Columbus, Ohio where he moved in September.
Eric Parry
Baltimore, Maryland
Eric Parry
Eric Parry served a Fellowship to volunteer with the Metropolitan Police Boys & Girls Club in Baltimore, Maryland. He also served as a mentor to the youths in the Washington, DC area. Eric served in the Army on active duty, and was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait. During his deployment,Eric received knee and joint injuries and has since suffered from PTSD.
David Pickens
Baltimore, Maryland
David Pickens
David Pickens served a Fellowship through the Mission Continues to serve as a mentor and head coach of a non-profit semi-pro football team called the Baltimore Broncos. David is a Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom veteran who suffered a back injury during a driving mission over rough terrain.
Brad Watts
Portland, Maine
Brad Watts
During his time in Iraq, Brad was involved in multiple incidents with improvised explosive devices. Brad suffered a brain injury, memory loss, as well as other mental issues including post traumatic stress disorder. Brad served a Fellowship to develop a project designed to unite different non-profits in the greater Saco-Biddeford area. With support from the non-profit arm of the local United Baptist Church, Brad brought together non-profit and charitable organizations in his community through common goals.
Perry Green
Perry Green
As a Fellow, Perry worked with the Veteran Affairs Hospital and the Red Cross in Augusta, Georgia. Perry's Fellowship was made possible through the sponsorship of the Travis Manion Foundation. Perry was deployed to Iraq twice while serving with the Army National Guard. He was medically discharged due to chronic back pain and was later diagonsed with degenerative disc disease.
Dionisios Nicholas
Dionisios Nicholas
Dionisios Nicholas, was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He graduated from Cleveland High School in Reseda, CA in 1980. In 1983, he received a degree from Los Angeles Valley College before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. While in the Marine Corps, Dionisios earned an undergraduate degree from Campbell University (NC) in 1991 and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Troy State University in 1996. Dionisios' Marine Corps career began at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, and after training he was assigned as the legal services specialist military occupational school. Over his career, he volunteered for many overseas assignments, including time in Okinawa, Japan, and Korea.
Mathew Trotter
Mathew Trotter
Mathew served for eight years as an Aviation Technician in the United States Navy, deploying multiple times during the Global War on Terror. He suffered a serious injury while serving in the line of duty, and has undergone six reconstructive surgeries. As a Fellow, Mathew worked with the Triple H Equitherapy Center in Pipe Creek, Texas. His primary goal was to build an equine therapy program to assist other wounded veterans with their recovery. One of the country's largest military medical facilities for amputees, Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), is located in nearby San Antonio. Mathew is creating programs that will not only address the therapy needs of these Veterans, but also train them to serve as mentors for troubled youth engaged in service programs at Triple H.
