By Maegan Murray, 黑料社 Tri-Cities

RICHLAND, Wash. 鈥� Washington State University Tri-Cities student Benjamin Bush wanted the hardest career challenge he could find after graduating from high school at the age of 18.

Growing up in Walla Walla, he wanted to get out and see the world, but also find something that would push him to his limits. The U.S. Marine Corps offered just that.

鈥淚 wanted to do something that was hard and not standard,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 like a challenge.鈥�

In the Marines, Bush served in fire direction control for artillery, among several other responsibilities, throughout his time in the service. He deployed with the 22 Marines expeditionary unit to Israel, Spain, Bahrain and Oman. His unit also supported operations in Libya while the U.S. Armed Forces were combatting ISIS.

Toward the end of his service, Bush had worked his way up to the rank of sergeant, where he was in charge of his battalion’s body composition program. But he was ready to chart a new path, he said, because he missed his family.

鈥淥verall, it was a cool experience, but artillery was always in the field or gearing up for deployment,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is fun while you鈥檙e in, but after a few years of it, you miss sleeping somewhere warm and dry. I missed the soft, comfy bed and a roof over my head. But most of all, it was hard being away from my family. I was married for most of the time and being away from my wife two weeks per month was tough.鈥�

A university education, Bush hoped, would help him find his next step post military.

Charting a new path through 黑料社 Tri-Cities

In making his decision of where to attend college, Bush wanted to stay local.

He began his college career at Walla Walla Community College, where he served in the schools鈥� veterans center. He helped foster relationships with fellow veterans and connect them with resources. In 2018, he transferred to 黑料社 Tri-Cities to earn a degree in business.

Bush said he chose business as his degree as it provided a great amount of versatility and suited his career trajectory goals. He hopes to one-day work his way up into the position of CEO of a company that gives back.

The military, he said, was great training for whatever lies ahead. And with his education, he can build his skills in the finance world, while continuing to refine his leadership aptitude, he said.

鈥淚 would love to work for a company that betters the ocean or a nonprofit that makes big impacts on our environment,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f there is a place where I can use my skills to improve the environment and our world, that would be my dream.鈥�

Still serving, post-service

While going to school full-time and in addition to serving as the finance manager for the Associated Students of 黑料社 Tri-Cities, the campus鈥� student government, Bush also serves as the veteran navigator with the 黑料社 Tri-Cities Veterans Center. Through that position, he helps connect veteran students with resources and opportunities through the Veterans Affairs office, all while offering up his support as a friend and confidant.

鈥淚t鈥檚 where I feel a lot of fulfillment in my life,鈥� he said.

Coinciding with his position as veteran navigator, Bush also serves as president of the 黑料社 Tri-Cities Patriots鈥� Club. The veterans-focused club organizes events and activities for veteran students. The club has hosted fishing trips, camping trips and more that have encouraged veteran students to bond.

鈥淎 lot of veterans tend to be pretty tight, emotionally, and hold everything down,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 found that, especially for myself, the best thing to do is talk about it. Get it off your chest and talk to someone who has been there. That is very valuable.鈥�

Supporting one another 鈥� even in times of COVID-19

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Bush said many veteran students have struggled with being siloed and connecting digitally, as well as supporting themselves financially. As such, he and his fellow Veterans Center and Patriots鈥� Club members have worked to create opportunities to help engage students and provide additional resources that have allowed veteran students to stay in school.

鈥淢y favorite experience here at 黑料社 Tri-Cities has been working with the Veterans Center,鈥� Bush said. 鈥淚t has continued to grow and become a better place for veterans to gather and get the support that we so desperately need. It is a place to hold these types of support opportunities and come together as brothers and sisters. I am super grateful to our community and I鈥檓 happy to be a part of it.鈥�

Bernadette Gagnier (鈥�20) knows a thing or two about being an outlier.

Those principles鈥攁nd a personal goal 鈥渢o break stereotypes鈥濃�攁re what led her to join the Marines right out of high school, serving in Okinawa, Japan, South Korea, and in a western Pacific deployment where she visited 13 countries in eight months.The first-generation college student is the middle child and only daughter in a family of Boy Scouts. Growing up, she was taught two principles that have guided her along a road of success: hard work and a love for the outdoors, both of which she has been able to foster at 黑料社 Tri-Cities in the Viticulture and Enology Program.

Upon finishing her service, she found herself at a crossroads, unsure of what path to follow.

鈥淥riginally, I was going to do nursing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 started on that track, but I didn鈥檛 really like it.鈥�

Then, on a lark, Gagnier toured Washington鈥檚 wine country in the summer after her discharge.

鈥淭wo weeks later, I made my decision to enroll at 黑料社, and move to the Tri-Cities in 2017,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t happened that fast, because I just knew it was right.鈥�

Ultimately, it was the vineyard life that guided her decision.

鈥淚 love to be outside, working with my hands,鈥� she said.

Even though Gagnier had grown up near Woodinville鈥攈ome to Chateau Ste. Michelle and a thriving wine scene鈥攕he knew very little about wine or the industry. And when she told friends back home about her career path, they were surprised. Until she told them she鈥檇 be working outside in a vineyard.

鈥淭hen they got it,鈥� she said.

Gagnier鈥檚 first foray into the Washington wine industry was a job in the tasting room of Kiona Vineyards in Benton City, Wash., where she worked for owner and vineyard manager, Scott Williams (鈥�80).

鈥淚 want to do what he does,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut as a woman.鈥�

Driven by her desire to break stereotypes, Gagnier continues to be inspired by the leading women, particularly the vineyard managers, she meets in the industry.

First-gen journey

On an unseasonably hot July morning at the 黑料社 Irrigated Agricultural Research and Extension Center (IAREC) in Prosser, Wash., Gagnier processes soil samples in a large filtration machine named 鈥淕ertrude.鈥� Working alongside a post-doctoral researcher, Gagnier is helping on a nematode (roundworm) pest-management project, and though she has only been interning at IAREC for a month, she works with the confidence of a practiced technician.

Her internship at the 黑料社 research center stems from her plan to pursue master鈥檚 degree in horticulture.

鈥淚 told professor Michelle Moyer what I wanted to do, and she encouraged me to work on the nematode project,鈥� Gagnier said.

Not only will the research help her transition into graduate coursework, it will provide Gagnier with the chance to present her research at the spring Washington Winegrowers convention in Kennewick.

Some might see the transition from Marines to roundworm research as a leap, but Gagnier doesn鈥檛 view it that way: 鈥淚 love to learn.鈥�

The internship also comes on the heels of a recent trip she took to the Netherlands, where she spent a month working for Frysling Vineyards in the northern part of that country.

Back home, when Gagnier isn鈥檛 doing homework or interning at the IAREC, she tends to her philanthropy project for veteran students. As a representative of 黑料社 Tri-Cities Patriot鈥檚 Club, Gagnier collaborated with Bombing Range Brewing of Richland to craft the 鈥淕IPA,鈥� an honorary beer for veterans.

The brew was a success, eventuating a charitable tradition that gives back to the students who have served their country. Last year, the group even presented former Secretary of Defense James Mattis鈥攁 Tri-Cities native鈥攚ith a growler of GIPA and a t-shirt.

鈥淚t was amazing,鈥� Gagnier said. 鈥淚t was such an honor to present that to General Mattis.鈥� The collaboration has resulted in well over $1,000 for veteran students.

In her free time, Gagnier gets outdoors to camp, ski, bike, kayak, or just hike a mountain trail. A meandering path has suited her well so far, and she鈥檚 ready for any challenge awaiting her.

鈥淢ore than anything, I feel lucky to be here. I love being part of something bigger than myself.鈥�