Veterans Find Community Through Noncredit Art Class at Hancock

OCTOBER 12, 2026- When Allan Hancock College Community Education introduced its new Image Transfers from Photographs course, instructor and U.S. Navy veteran Helen Boursier expected to bring together students interested in art and creativity.  

What she did not expect was that the class would become a gathering place for seven veterans representing more than six decades of combined military service.  

“I wasn’t surprised to see so many veterans in the class because I already knew several of them through the local veteran community, but I was incredibly pleased that they decided to sign up,” Boursier said. “It was especially rewarding to hear that they enjoyed the experience and wanted to know when I would be teaching the class again.” 

Boursier, who served 2.5 years in the Navy as a journalist, was joined by fellow veterans Mike Boursier, Pat Borrer, D.J. Barber, Terii Richard Shirley, Paula McMurray and Shevonne Harris. Together, the group represents service in the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Army and Air Force.  

Several of the female veterans were already familiar with image transfers through She Raised Her Hand, a group for women veterans in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties that meets monthly in Orcutt. Helen Boursier previously created image transfers for an Altrusa-sponsored tree honoring female veterans, including ornaments featuring veterans’ basic training and boot camp photographs.  

“One of the unexpected and wonderful parts of the class was seeing how creating art together gave us an opportunity to connect more deeply as veterans,” Helen Boursier said. “Working with photographs of important memories naturally led us to share stories about where we served, what we experienced and the people who made an impact on our lives. Those are conversations we might not otherwise have had.”  

That connection helped introduce several of the women to the art form and eventually brought them into the new Community Education course.  

In class, the veterans have continued using image transfers to explore and preserve their experiences. One project features a female-veterans medallion bearing the message, “I am not most girls. I am a veteran.” According to Helen Boursier, the medallion serves as an ongoing reminder of the women’s shared identity as veterans. 

The seven veterans bring a wide range of military experience to the classroom. D.J. Barber served 21 years in the Navy, Paula McMurray served 12 years in the Air Force, Mike Boursier served 14 years between the Coast Guard and Guard service, Shevonne Harris served six years in the Army, Pat Borrer served four years in the Army, Terii Richard Shirley served two years in the Air Force, and Helen Boursier served 2.5 years in the Navy.  

For several of the veterans, the course also marked their first experience with Community Education. What began as an opportunity to explore a new art form became a space for connection, storytelling and shared experiences among veterans from different branches, generations and backgrounds.  

The course itself was also years in the making. Boursier began preparing the new Community Education art offerings approximately 18 months before they launched.  

“Image transfers can be a creative bridge between photography and art, especially for people who may not think of themselves as artists,” Boursier said. “The techniques are processes anyone can learn, regardless of their artistic background. It gives people permission to experiment with meaningful photographs and turn them into something completely new.” 

The unexpected gathering reflects one of the unique strengths of Community Education: creating opportunities for people - who may never have otherwise crossed paths - to come together around shared interests and experiences.  

The Image Transfers from Photographs course is part of Allan Hancock College Community Education’s tuition-free noncredit offerings, which provide opportunities for lifelong learning, personal enrichment and skill development throughout the community.  

For information about Allan Hancock College Community Education tuition-free classes, visit www.hancockcollege.edu/communityed or call 1-805-347-7553.