Student Soldier Tackles Tough Graduation

Steve Beecroft is a 29 year old WSU Business student who is also a valued employee at Lower Columbia College Information Services as a network administer. He is married with a 2 year old daughter and a 9 month old son. Steve is also a member of the Washington National Guard and is currently serving in Kuwait as a network specialist. He has been deployed since last winter and will possibly return this spring. Steve’s deployment was going to prohibit him from being able to complete the last two classes required for his bachelor’s degree. Steve had been going to school (both at Lower Columbia College and WSU) for seven consecutive years, earning three associates degrees in his studies. He has six technical certifications dealing directly with networking and is working toward a BA in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management Information Systems (MIS). He has maintained a GPA of 3.6 while juggling work, school, his National Guard duties and his family. The two courses that Steve was missing would have set his graduation date back two years after his return, as they were courses only offered from WSU Vancouver on a set schedule. But thanks to the efforts of Steve, WSU Vancouver, the WSU Distance Degree Programs and the WSU Cowlitz and Wahkiakum Learning Center, Steve was able to complete both courses while serving in Kuwait. He is currently planning on graduating in May of 2005, shortly before he finishes Officer Candidate School and is released in June.