National Guard Veteran Honors His Grandmother and Pursues His Dreams
After starting his education journey 20 years ago, veteran Jimmie Woodruff found what he needed to complete his bachelor’s degree from Purdue Global. (Purdue Global photo/Kelsey Lefever)
With support from the GI Bill and Purdue Global, Jimmie Woodruff is using his bachelor’s to pursue a career in law
Jimmie Woodruff’s journey into higher education began 20 years ago, when his grandmother Emma Jean Woodruff helped him enroll in college for the first time.
“My grandmother signed her name on the dotted line for me to be able to pay,” he says. “I was in and out of school, but no matter what, she never gave up on me.”
When he joined the National Guard in 2019, Jimmie (BS legal support and services ’25, Purdue Global) realized he could use GI Bill benefits to fulfill the promise he made to earn his college degree.
“I wanted to get the degree while she was still alive, but that didn’t happen,” he says. “This degree is dedicated to her. She was my support system and my rock.”
While he had attempted to earn a degree before, this time was different. Purdue Global’s familiarity with the GI Bill benefits helped him keep up with military obligations, and the seminar-based structure provided accountability.
Jimmie finally knew he could do it. Just 12 days after finishing his bachelor’s, he enrolled in a master’s degree program. Next he plans to go to law school.
He hopes to transition from IT to a career in law. His Purdue Global education has prepared him to move forward with his master’s and Juris Doctor, and eventually he can use his credentials to realize his dream and seek anything from paralegal roles to senior legal positions.
“Without Purdue Global, I would still be spinning my wheels, talking about graduating and not actually graduating,” he says. “This has been a godsend.”
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Jimmie’s grandmother passed away in May, but he knows she was there cheering him on alongside his loved ones as he walked the stage in October. She started him on his educational journey and consistently encouraged him to finish it.
“I got it done,” he says. “It’s a huge testimony to my grandmother. She kept pushing me and believing in me. I found the right combination of support in Purdue Global, and it got me over the hump.”
