by Barbara Christiansen

Not every college student gets invited to a former United States president’s 70th birthday party, or to go mountain bike riding with him. But Utah Valley University student Leslie Zimmerman is not your average student.

A non-traditional student, she enlisted in the U.S. Army when she was 18. It was her service that led George W. Bush to select her as one of a group of veterans he chose to honor in his book, “Portraits of Courage: A Commander-in-Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors.” She was also featured on the “Today” show on Feb. 27, as one of several veterans, showcasing Bush’s new book.