Blackhawk helicopter pilot Stephanie Bauman becomes USF’s 17th Tillman Scholar since the program was founded.
TAMPA, Fla. (June 6, 2018) – University of South Florida student and member of the U.S. Army Reserve Stephanie Bauman is among 60 U.S. military service veterans and military spouses from across the nation named 2018 Tillman Military Scholars today by the Pat Tillman Foundation. Bauman, a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in physics, was awarded an $11,000 scholarship to complete her degree.
The Tillman Foundation recognizes individuals for their military service, leadership and academic excellence. This year’s group will receive over $1.3 million in scholarships to pursue higher education and continue their service in the fields of medicine, law, business, policy, technology, science, education and the arts.
“Stephanie has had an accomplished career in the Army Reserve that demonstrates the leadership, honor, dedication and sacrifice for country that Pat Tillman exemplified in service,” Larry Braue, director of the USF Office of Veteran Success and retired U.S. Army veteran, said. “As a Tillman University partner, we are thrilled to count Stephanie as the 17th scholar in our cohort of Tillman Military Scholars at USF.”
With a strong desire for challenging life experiences, Bauman enlisted as a civil affairs operator in the Army Reserve in 1998 after graduating college with a bachelor’s degree in legal studies. She avoided commissioning as an officer in order to gain experience as an enlisted soldier, which prepared her for a deployment to the Horn of Africa in 2003. During a deployment to Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom in 2011, Bauman served as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot in a medical evacuation company, risking her life selflessly to save others. Bauman remains active in the Army Reserve as tactical operations program manager and aeromedical evacuation pilot.
Bauman’s passion for physics was ignited early in 2015 after reading “Alice in Quantumland” by Robert Gilmore, leading her to enroll at USF, where she excels both inside and outside the classroom. During a seven-week research internship at MIT’s Materials Processing Center, Bauman’s passion became further focused when she learned that the production of bricks and other building materials are among the most wasteful, polluting and energy intensive processes in the world.
“As a physics researcher, I hope to put my education, skills and experiences to work in materials science to improve the lifecycle sustainability of building materials in order to help protect future generations by preserving the environment,” Bauman said. “Thanks to the generosity of the Tillman Foundation, I will have the financial support to pursue this goal.”
USF is consistently ranked as one of the most veteran-friendly schools in the nation and is currently the top ranked public college by Military Times.
For more information about USF’s Office of Veteran Success visit www.usf.edu/veterans.
About the Pat Tillman Foundation
In 2002, Pat Tillman proudly put his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals on hold to serve his country. Family and friends established the Pat Tillman Foundation following Pat’s death in April 2004 while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan. The Pat Tillman Foundation unites and empowers remarkable military veterans and spouses as the next generation of public and private sector leaders committed to service beyond self. The fellowship program supports Tillman Scholars with academic scholarships, a national network, and professional development opportunities, so they are empowered to make an impact in the world. For more information on the Pat Tillman Foundation and the impact of the Tillman Scholars, visit PatTillmanFoundation.org.
About the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, established in 1956 and located in Tampa, is a high-impact, global research university dedicated to student success. The USF System includes three, separately accredited institutions: USF; USF St. Petersburg; and USF Sarasota-Manatee. Serving more than 49,000 students, the USF System has an annual budget of $1.6 billion and an annual economic impact of $4.4 billion. USF ranks in the Top 30 nationally for research expenditures among public universities, according to the National Science Foundation. In 2016, the Florida Legislature designated USF as “Emerging Preeminent,” placing USF in an elite category among the state’s 12 public universities. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference.