Success Stories
Veteran and humanitarian seeks flight degree
Story by Kristan Dauble
 |
| Tyson Bumgardner is achieving his dream of being a pilot, with a degree from Lane Community College. |
Tyson Bumgardner traveled the world serving his country. Soon he’ll have a degree in flight technology from Lane Community College that will take him even more places.
Humble about his achievements, Tyson leads by example through selfless military service and humanitarian endeavors.
In fall 2001, Tyson enrolled at Lane to study history. But the 9/11 terrorist attacks motivated him to join the National Guard. He spent his first two years of Guard duty in Egypt and was deployed to Iraq in 2003. There, he spent 18 months in and out of heavy combat and grew into an unexpected leadership role during intense fighting in Baghdad, earning the respect and admiration of his troops. Today he serves as a Staff Sergeant and a Scout Squad Leader.
Coming back from military service in 2005 gave him the opportunity to continue his education. This time he enrolled in the Flight Training program at Lane to pursue a lifelong dream to be a pilot. As a young boy growing up in San Diego, he watched the Blue Angels fly over his house every day and he has wanted to fly ever since.
“I struggled with not being a very good student academically, but I was determined to overcome my academic difficulties so I could fly,” says Tyson. “School is about personal growth.”
The GI Bill and scholarship support gave Tyson the financial means to follow his dream. Through the Lane Community College Foundation, Tyson applied for and received a Flight Technology Shining Star Scholarship, a Mahlon Sweet Memorial Flight Tech Scholarship, and a Robert and Bernice Ingalls Staton Scholarship.
When Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005, Tyson interrupted his studies again, although this time just for a few weeks, to volunteer for the New Orleans relief effort.
His educational goals are to graduate from Lane with an associate of applied science degree in flight technology and then transfer to the University of Oregon for a business degree. He would like to try bush piloting for a while and eventually move into corporate flying.
It’s no surprise that humanitarian work is part of his plan. “Flight can take you wherever you want. That’s what is cool about it—it’s mobile.” Tyson has spoken about veteran reintegration at Portland State University and at the Lane Foundation’s Harvest Dinner fundraiser. He would very much like to be a leader for veterans in Eugene.
For more information on Lane’s Flight Training program, visit:
http://2011sitearchive.lanecc.edu/flight
Published by Lane Community College Marketing and Public Relations, June 2008.
