SHORELINE — Shoreline Community College graduate Hugh Turnbaugh’s drive and determination to receive an education have taught him a valuable lesson.
Don’t give up.
After completing one year of community college in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio, Turnbaugh enlisted in the Navy. He listened to the recommendation of a commander at boot camp and waived his GI Bill benefits, which he has regretted since making the decision, the 26-year-old said.
“I trusted that that decision would be a good one,” he said.
During the next five or so years, Turnbaugh tried, to no avail, to reverse his decision. He appealed the rejections all the way up the ladder, eventually enlisting state Sen. Maria Cantwell in his fight.
“Hearing ‘no’ so many times was really frustrating,” Turnbaugh said. “But I didn’t give up.”
He had hopes that things would turn around, but then he received word from top officials in Washington, D.C. that his request was again denied.
Although the responses were disappointing, his desire to return to school was not diminished and he enrolled at Shoreline CC in the spring of 2004, after serving three years based out of Bremerton.
“I knew that I wanted to go back no matter what,” Turnbaugh said, so throughout his six-year stint in the service, he continued to save money so he could afford college.
Turnbaugh doesn’t have to worry about such expenses anymore.
He applied for and received one of 49 Washington Awards for Vocational Excellence given to community or technical college students. One community college student from each state legislative district is granted a WAVE award, and two high school students from each legislative district receive awards, for a total of 147 awards given annually.
The award will pay for two years of undergraduate studies at a public or private institution in Washington. It will cover Turnbaugh’s tuition, books, fees and other expenses.
His hard work to retrieve his service benefits might not have come through for him, but his hard work on campus certainly did.
Turnbaugh has served as treasurer this year for Shoreline’s student government, a position he was elected to after running his campaign as a write-in candidate.
He’s also a member of Delta Epsilon Chi, a business and marketing club at Shoreline.
David Starr, who advises the club and is Turnbaugh’s faculty adviser, told Turnbaugh about WAVE awards and is pleased he received one.
“It’s a substantial scholarship, and for him, it really guarantees that he’ll be able to go to school and focus,” Starr said.
Starr said Turnbaugh is determined and a good student. His 3.95 grade-point average indicates his strength in the classroom, but the way he has involved himself at the school is really what sets him apart from other students, Starr said.
“He has chosen to be there, he has chosen to learn, he has chosen to be actively engaged in the process, and now he is receiving his recognition,” Starr said.
Just a few weeks ago, Turnbaugh received word that he had been accepted directly into the University of Washington’s business school, and he hopes to receive his master’s degree in business administration after getting his bachelor’s degree.
“I’d really like to own my own business someday,” Turnbaugh said.
Turnbaugh’s wife of four years, Shanon, was an inspiration for him to attend school, he said. She was the first in her family to earn a degree, and she now works in a biotech laboratory.
He credits his time at Shoreline as a valuable portion of his education.
“I don’t know if it would’ve worked the same,” he said, if he had gone straight to a four-year college.
“I feel better about my future” since studying at Shoreline, he said.
Starr said it’s Turnbaugh’s drive that has helped him succeed.
“He has created his own opportunities,” Starr said.
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