VIDEO: UK Honors Student Veteran Zach Grills

Video produced by UK Public Relations and Marketing. To view captions for this video, push play and click on the CC icon in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. If using a mobile device, click on the "thought bubble" in the same area.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 1, 2017) — As an aviation rescue swimmer in the United States Navy, UK freshman Zach Grills had to put his fears aside the moment he began rescue swimming school.

"In a real life scenario, jumping into the water is crazy," said Grills, a native of London, Kentucky.  "Stormy conditions is probably the most stressful environment you could ever put yourself in, so, that's what they wanted to recreate at the school."

While he admits the training was tough, he learned a lot about himself in the process.

"Even though it was difficult at a time, it was the most rewarding and gratifying experience of my military career," Grills said. 

Today he's busy working on trying to accomplish yet another goal by pursuing a kinesiology degree from the UK College of Education.  

"There's nothing you can't do when you put your mind to something," Grills said. "UK is special to me, I always wanted to come here."

Watch the video above to find out what it is that makes UK so special to Grills.

This video is the third in a five-part series highlighting student veterans at the University of Kentucky.  During the coming weeks, these student veterans will be honored by UK Athletics during UK Men's Basketball games at Rupp Arena. 

For more information about student veterans at the University of Kentucky, visit the Veterans Resource Center website.