Matthew Batista

Matthew Batista, who graduated with Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Economics in 2016, is a Juris Doctor (JD) candidate at California Western School of Law in San Diego, California. He received the John G. Smale Award for Outstanding Economic Achievement in 2016. Matthew graduated with honors in the major and he presented his paper "The New NFL Disneyworld" A Cost-Benefit Analysis for Inglewood, California in May just before graduation.

During his senior year he received (1) the Rick Rees Unsung Hero Award for organizing the first California Student Veteran Conference for the State of California and (2) the Serving with Integrity scholarship(opens in new window) award from Student Veterans of America and PNC Bank.  He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and SALUTE Veteran Honor Society.  In the summer of 2016 Matthew was a liaison between the San Francisco Giants Community Fund and the Chico Junior Giants(opens in new window). 

Matthew came to Chico State via Butte College after leaving the United States Air Force as a Staff Sergeant with over 5 years of service.  The Air Force awarded him the Air Force Achievement Medal for demonstrating meritorious service while serving overseas and the Senior Airman Below the Zone with early promotion. While in the Air Force Matt took courses through the Community College of the Air Force, the American Military University and Arkansas State University. In February 2014 Matthew became a Certified Personal Trainer with the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). He took classes at Butte College and Orange Coast College before enrolling at Chico State in 2014.

While at Chico State Matthew organized the first California Student Veteran Conference, which was held at Chico State.  He was a key member in the Student Veteran Organization when it received the 2016 Student Veterans of America and Home Depot Foundation $10,000 grant.  He also found time for the SALUTE Veteran Honor Society,(opens in new window) Economics Club, and Phi Kappa Phi(opens in new window) while making the Dean’s List with his high GPA. During 2015 Matthew coached baseball for the Durham Little League, interned in the Housing Law Department of the Community Legal Information Center, and began work as a Veteran Benefits Counselor in Chico State’s Office of Veterans Affairs until graduation.  

“An Economics Degree from California State University, Chico has provided me with many tools I will surely put to use in my future plans to become a lawyer,” Matthew stated in a recent email. “Chief among the tools is learning to think and work critically and analytically. Besides the many tools I have acquired through obtaining this degree, another crucial way this degree will aid my future career is simply by providing another base of knowledge outside strictly a legal education. In my personal opinion, lawyers who have expertise in areas outside of only legal issues are better positioned to find their legal niche and the capability to execute a wider breadth of legal work.”  (Last Updated 11/30/18)