DEIB

VETERAN'S DAY

Veteran ' s Day is celebrated to acknowledge and pay tribute to those who have risked their lives for their country. It is a time to reflect on the sacrifices they have made to serve the greater American public. In honor of this holiday, we sat down with two of our very own BPU Veterans, Dawn Batchelor and Joshua Plouffe, to learn more about their time in the military.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Dawn Batchelor, Senior Assistant Director of Student Financial Services and Veterans Administration Education Benefits Liaison, served in the U.S. Air Force for six years as administrative personnel working for the aerial port unit. Unsure of her path in life and with a desire to travel, she enlisted with the hope of exploring new opportunities.

Self-discovery was a life-changing outcome of her time in the military. While on duty, she found confidence in herself that she never thought she could have. She was surprised by her own strength and ability to accomplish things she never believed that she could.

While in the service, Batchelor made lifelong friends who quickly became family to her. She stays in close contact with her fellow service members to this day even from across the country.

Dawn believes that it is not always understood by civilians just how dedicated Veterans are to their country. The sacrifice to be away from family and friends is an enormous one and it is done for the sake of freedom.

We want to sincerely thank both Dawn and Josh for their service and for sharing their stories with us. Remember to thank your Veterans on Friday, November 11, 2022.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Joshua Plouffe, Business Analyst, served in the U.S. Army for eight years following the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. Plouffe was at a pivotal stage in his life when the attack occurred, and as a strong patriot, he made the decision to enlist when he became of age. Plouffe served in front line units in North Carolina, Korea, and Iraq, and served as an army medic at West Point. He looks back at his time in Korea the most fondly as he gained the exposure he always craved to meet new people and have new cultural experiences.

Looking back on his time served, his biggest takeaway was the overwhelming sense of comradery felt by his fellow service members from all walks of life. Every person he spoke to had a completely different story and background and yet none of it mattered as they were all united as one force. This gave Plouffe a newfound sense of awareness as a young man which he has carried into his adulthood. He learned to focus on what brings people together rather than focus on what divides them.

To this day, Plouffe has remained very close friends with his fellow service members and has built relationships all across the country and around the world. If Plouffe were asked if he would do anything differently with his life, he would reply, “No, I wouldn’t. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. I was lucky to come out with ten fingers and ten toes and was grateful for the life experience I made during my time in the military.