2012 OSU Ecampus graduates

Bernard Hamill – Dedicated cop aims to trade badge for a classroom

B.S. in Environmental Sciences
Murrieta, Calif.

What does earning your OSU degree mean to you?
This is the culmination of a road I started 25 years ago and restarted with OSU four years ago. It's a symbol of how important education is to me to show to my kids, and it's the opportunity to move on and try a new career.

Why did you choose to complete your degree online through OSU Ecampus? What did you enjoy about this method of education?
The flexibility of online learning was the best. As a police officer working different shifts all the time, it was difficult to find a college I could attend with a degree program I was interested in. OSU fulfilled both requirements and carried the prestige of a Pac-12 school.

Did you have an instructor or advisor who was influential in helping you succeed as a distance student?
Dawn Marie Gaid was probably the most influential in my success. I enjoyed most my classes and instructors, but Dawn Marie was there quarter after quarter to help me find the simplest path to my degree.

What will your Ecampus degree allow you to do that you were unable to do before?
First, I will be able to be a full-fledged instructor at the local community college where I have taught classes as an associate in the past. Second, I will be able to move on to graduate school and earn my master’s in education along with my teaching credential. This will allow me to retire early from my law enforcement career and move on to the classroom where I may be able to influence kids before they get into trouble.

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