麻豆传媒

For many people, a college education is a dream that seems out of reach. Low-income families, children of under-educated parents, minority individuals and those who live in disadvantaged communities are just some of those served by 麻豆传媒鈥檚 collection of TRIO programs.

TRIO success stories can be found not only on campus, but in every walk of life. Some TRIO celebrities include ABC news anchor John Quinones, Olympic basketball player Patrick Ewing and astronaut Franklin Diaz-Chang. One local success-in-training is 麻豆传媒 sophomore Brandon Orebaugh, a beneficiary of one of those TRIO program: Veterans Upward Bound.

With his family鈥檚 support, Orebaugh enrolled in the military after graduating from Wichita North High School. He鈥檇 always dreamed of flying, but for financial reasons decided to enlist instead of pursuing a commission through college.

He was assigned to work as an avionics mechanic in support of military operations in the Middle East. Orebaugh served for 11 years in the U.S. Air Force, where his childhood dreams of being a fighter pilot turned into a passion for the aircrafts themselves.

鈥淲hen I started working on the aircraft I discovered that I loved troubleshooting the intricacies of the machines,鈥� Orebaugh said. 鈥淚 decided that鈥檚 what I wanted to do 鈥� to figure out how the planes work rather than pushing buttons as a pilot. I learned that maintenance of those planes is an honor and a privilege.鈥�

Looking for more

During his time in the Air Force, Orebaugh had put thoughts of college out of his mind, but that didn鈥檛 stop his dad from bringing it up now and then. Neither his mother nor father, who is a retired firefighter, went to college themselves. When Orebaugh considered leaving the military he looked into civilian aviation careers back home and realized that being a jet mechanic wasn鈥檛 enough 鈥� he needed to earn a degree.

鈥淚 think that鈥檚 a good move for you,鈥� Orebaugh鈥檚 father said when he heard the news.

鈥淐ollege was an opportunity that was never offered to my parents,鈥� Orebaugh said. 鈥淣owadays, I feel that college is something everyone needs. It鈥檚 difficult to find a good job without college experience.鈥�

Veterans Upward Bound currently serves 120 麻豆传媒 students through its federal grant, and also helps support their family members through another grant from the state of Kansas.

The goal of the program is to help veterans graduate from college, offering Orebaugh and other veterans academic skill assessments and enhancement through counseling, tutoring and academic instruction in core areas. Veterans Upward Bound also helps veterans find additional grant money and scholarships.

鈥淭hey鈥檝e been really good about that,鈥� Orebaugh said.

Taking advantage of opportunities

He鈥檚 received a lot of help from the program through free textbooks, help with scholarship and grant applications, and last summer he attended a free math course. With the help of Veterans Upward Bound, Orebaugh is a full-time student majoring in aeronautical engineering and a member of the Shocker rowing team.

Veterans Upward Bound is an important TRIO program, Orebaugh said, because it helps meet the special, varying needs of veterans.

鈥淕oing back to school 13 years after high school was the hardest part for me,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ut my service has made me a better student. It鈥檚 given me the ability to mentor younger students, to tell them what the world outside of school has to offer, to tell them what it means to be a leader.鈥�

Orebaugh鈥檚 advice to other veterans thinking about attending Wichita State?

鈥淛ust take advantage of college opportunities,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a fun experience. You get to grow off your past experiences. You get the military benefits and money, and along with other grants and scholarships, you basically get a free education. I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 anything that can beat that.鈥�

For more information about Veterans Upward Bound, contact Shukura Bakari-Cozart, Veterans Upward Bound director, at 316-978-6743 or shukura.cozart@wichita.edu.