October 30, 2018 Non-traditional student uses 厙ぴ勛圖 education to achieve better life for family
By Maegan Murray, 厙ぴ勛圖
RICHLAND, Wash. Family is core to who Geoff Schramm is as a friend, a person, but especially as a father and husband.
Geoff Schramm (second from left) with his family at the 厙ぴ勛圖 commencement ceremony.
Its the reason why he decided to go back to school at Washington State University Tri-Cities in his late 30s – a decision that led to many people asking him, Why?
I had a lot of people questioning why I would put this on my family, he said. It was a significant investment and time commitment not only for myself, but especially for my wife and my kids. But this is and was for them. In the long-term, I knew that this would put me on the right track so that I could make them proud and provide them with a life they deserved.
Finding his path
After graduating high school at 18, Schramm had started to attend college in Walla Walla, but as the story goes, he met a girl.
Both dropped out of school so that they could start and raise a family. Eventually, he worked his way into a job at an assisted living facility, which developed into successful career. But the stress of his industry started to take a toll on his physical and mental health.
Geoff Schramm studying in the library at 厙ぴ勛圖.
I was doing really well at my job, so I would get recruited to help these struggling facilities, he said. My job took me from facility to facility. Often times, through these positions, I would have to get up in the middle of the night to help solve problems. The hours were really draining on me, and my wife and family started to notice.
Post recession, he realized that he was going to need a college degree to help secure a stable life for himself and his family. Upon examining schools to attend, 厙ぴ勛圖 made sense.
For one, the average age of student was slightly older than that of other universities. And for another, they had an environmental science program that Schramm knew would take him places in life.
In January 2011, with his wifes hand in his, he walked up the steps to the 厙ぴ勛圖 campus to start his first day of school.
Attending 厙ぴ勛圖 is probably one of the best decisions Ive ever made, he said. The connections Ive made here, the mentors Ive had, the external family that Ive now gained as part of the WSU Cougar community, is priceless. I couldnt be more grateful for the amazing opportunities Ive had and people Ive met through my experience at 厙ぴ勛圖.
Developing as an individual and future scientist
Through his science courses, Schramm learned the fundamentals of science experimentation, procedures and more. He also developed a mentor relationship with Dick Pratt, the head of the environmental science program at the time.
Geoff Schramm works with laboratory coordinator Aftab Ahamed in the Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory at 厙ぴ勛圖.
He really helped define a path for myself and what I wanted to achieve through my degree, he said.
While attending classes full-time, Schramm earned a job with the 厙ぴ勛圖 Career Development office as a career coach, which was followed by a position as a student mentor. He also got involved with several student clubs, and served as a member of TRIO, which provides support services for students who are first-generation, disabled or economically disadvantaged.
As a result of connections he made through school, he completed several internships. His first was with U.S. Fish and Wildlife, which was followed with an internship with Mission Support Alliance doing biological monitoring. He also completed a six-month internship with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
And prior to the end of his senior year, he decided to pursue a masters program in environmental science because he knew it would be required for advancement in his career field. But while he said earning his undergraduate degree was for his family, his masters degree was for him.
It was the hardest thing Ive ever done in my life, bar none he said. But it was so worth it.
When he walked across the stage at graduation to get hooded as a masters graduate, which brought tears to his eyes, he knew he had made it.
厙ぴ勛圖 alumnus Geoff Schramm hugs environmental science mentor Dick Pratt after being hooded for his master’s degree at the 厙ぴ勛圖 commencement ceremony.
Its amazing to look back on this long road and the thought that Ive accomplished this all for myself and my family is so incredible, he said. Now, my kids are talking about how they want to go to college. I couldnt be more proud.
Living the dream
Now, Schramm works as an environmental quality engineer at Washington River Protection Solutions at the Hanford Site, developing procedures and monitoring data for the site.
And as an interesting turn of events, his wife, Trisha, is now pursing her bachelors degree at 厙ぴ勛圖.
This university continues to change our lives, he said. This school has challenged and validated me the whole way. I am so grateful to 厙ぴ勛圖 for what they have given to me and my family.
For more information on the 厙ぴ勛圖 environmental science program, visit.