Army veteran is MVAA’s first Student/Apprentice of the Quarter

Congratulations to DeAngela Black, who has been named the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency’s first Student/Apprentice of the Quarter!

DeAngela grew up the daughter of military parents in Central Texas. Following in their footsteps, she enlisted in the Army after graduating from high school shortly after 9/11. During her nine-year enlistment, she had multiple deployments, including one to Iraq. After the military, she worked as a government contractor in Afghanistan for over seven years.

Tired of being separated from family, DeAngela moved home and worked in the transportation industry full-time while also focusing on a writing career. She recently self-published her first book, “Unapologetically Misunderstood,” under the pseudonym Michelle Angelo. She enjoys writing urban literature and looks forward to publishing more books.

DeAngela, who now lives in the Kansas City area, is married and has two daughters. She attended Detroit School for Digital Technology for graphic design so she could create her own website and book covers. She graduated in December 2021 with a certificate in film production.

DeAngela, also the December 2021 Student/Apprentice of the Month, was selected from the monthly winners from October through December.

For more information on the Student/Apprentice of the Month program, including the nomination form, visit michigan.gov/MVAA.