For CSU occupational safety and health student Jeffrey Ramey, winning a Hero Behind the Hero Scholarship allows him a chance to pay it forward.
“Receiving this gift may be a scholarship for my master’s program, but this scholarship will be helping more than just as a student paying for school. This scholarship will allow me to graduate so that I may help, inspire, and motivate others to use the key of education to unlock any door that stands before them,” said Ramey.
He plans to use his CSU Hero Behind the Hero Scholarship to fund the remainder of his education with CSU. The award honors the spouses and children of active-duty public safety personnel (firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMTs and dispatchers) and National Guard and military men and women, and covers tuition for up to 24 months for one specific online degree program with CSU. The scholarship is awarded six times a year.
He was recently presented the award by CSU Military Outreach representative David Parsons at the education center of Beale Air Force Base in California.
“Jeffrey’s wife works at the Beale Air Force Base and she and the staff were so excited to hear about his scholarship win. They are all big supporters of CSU and are really happy that one of their own got this opportunity,” Parsons said.
Ramey, who is married to Air National Guard Technical Sgt. Tabatha Ramey, hopes to earn his master’s degree in OSH to become a safety management consultant and a safety instructor at California’s Safety Center in Sacramento.
Jeffrey Ramey, who has 22 years of civilian military experience and training, previously worked at a Naval air station in Mississippi.
“The military, OSHA, EPA, state and company rules and regulations were always respected and followed by me. I gave instructions on proper use of protective equipment such as respirators, hearing protection, and chemical protective suites to new employees,” he explained. “The objective was to provide a safe environment for everyone and safe aircraft for the different instructors and the thousands of students that were trained in the T-2, TA-4, and the T-45 jet aircraft for the U.S. Navy and Marines.”
However, in 2010, a motorcycle accident “created some injuries that would not allow me to perform some of the duties that were involved. This event changed my life by depleting our savings, and eliminated my retirement pension plan.”
Ramey and his wife relocated and he focused on getting an education in OSH through CSU by earning his associate and bachelor’s degrees from the university.
As he pursues his master’s degree now, Ramey is hopeful this will allow to him to return to his beloved profession of keeping the public and workers safe.
Pictured above (left to right): Diana Bryan, education specialist, Beale AFB; Jeffery Ramey, Susan Downing, director of Military Outreach for Yuba College (and CSU proctor); Sarah Flemming, Education Services officer, Beale AFB
Congratulation Jeff! Well deserve, Bravo Zulu! and thank you for your service to our country.
v/r Loui
Way to go CSU and Jeff !!! It really makes me proud to be a CSU student!
Jeffrey is an inspiration as in not ever giving up. I can understand his enjoyment for doing safety, as it is something that is very fulfilling, and is enjoyable. You are making your luck Jeffrey, and congratulations are in order!!
CONGRATS!!!! This is a wonderful accomplishment and honor. I, too, recently received a 2-year tuition scholarship with the National Sheriff’s Association towards a Master’s degree at CSU, and have chosen OSH as my focus. Hang tough!!!