By Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities

RICHLAND, Wash. 鈥� Family is core to who Geoff Schramm is as a friend, a person, but especially as a father and husband.

It鈥檚 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, 鈥淲hy?鈥�

鈥淚 had a lot of people questioning why I would put this on my family,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t 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.鈥�

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.

鈥淚 was doing really well at my job, so I would get recruited to help these struggling facilities,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y 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.鈥�

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, 黑料社 Tri-Cities 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 wife鈥檚 hand in his, he walked up the steps to the 黑料社 Tri-Cities campus to start his first day of school.

鈥淎ttending 黑料社 Tri-Cities is probably one of the best decisions I鈥檝e ever made,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he connections I鈥檝e made here, the mentors I鈥檝e had, the external family that I鈥檝e now gained as part of the 黑料社 Cougar community, is priceless. I couldn鈥檛 be more grateful for the amazing opportunities I鈥檝e had and people I鈥檝e met through my experience at 黑料社 Tri-Cities.鈥�

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.

鈥淗e really helped define a path for myself and what I wanted to achieve through my degree,鈥� he said.

While attending classes full-time, Schramm earned a job with the 黑料社 Tri-Cities 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 master鈥檚 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 master鈥檚 degree was for him.

鈥淚t was the hardest thing I鈥檝e ever done in my life, bar none鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut it was so worth it.鈥�

When he walked across the stage at graduation to get hooded as a master鈥檚 graduate, which brought tears to his eyes, he knew he had made it.

鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing to look back on this long road and the thought that I鈥檝e accomplished this all for myself and my family is so incredible,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ow, my kids are talking about how they want to go to college. I couldn鈥檛 be more proud.鈥�

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 bachelor鈥檚 degree at 黑料社 Tri-Cities.

鈥淭his university continues to change our lives,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his school has challenged and validated me the whole way. I am so grateful to 黑料社 Tri-Cities for what they have given to me and my family.鈥�

For more information on the 黑料社 Tri-Cities environmental science program, visit聽.