Timothy Pippenger

"The Operation Education Scholarship has allowed me to focus on classes and spending time with my family while alleviating stress of finding extra income during the school year. In May of this year, my wife and I had our first child, a boy, Jackson. Because of this scholarship, I am able to spend more time with him and my wife, rather than having to work, and missing out on his early years".

Tim initially started school here at the University of Idaho in 2008, but struggled with finding a major that really sparked his interest. In 2011 he decided to follow in his parents footsteps and join the armed forces. After talking to multiple family members that were in the military he decided that the U.S. Air Force seemed like the best fit. During his time in the Air Force Tim made amazing strides in maturing as a young man, so much so that it allowed him to reconnect with his high school sweetheart and get married a year later. Tim was on his way to having a long and fruitful military career. In the span of four years he had received three Air Force Achievement Medals and the 2016 Squadron Outstanding Professional of the Year. During his second year in the Air Force he developed a hernia after attempting to lift a life raft into a truck to be transported to an airplane. After his initial hernia surgery it became clear that his military career would have to be cut short. In August of 2016 he was honorably discharged from service and decided to go back to school the following semester in spring of 2017. Tim is now on track to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science in December 2019. Him and his wife just welcomed their first child, Jackson, in May 2019.