Jeff Bowen, who is graduating from Central Oregon Community College, looks at an exhibit focusing on the different components of a single drop of blood, in the Health Careers Center building on the COCC campus in Bend on Tuesday afternoon. 

Jeff Bowen needed structure in his life after he dropped out of his first attempt at community college.

He spent some time in the National Guard before enrolling in college again. This June, Bowen is graduating from Central Oregon Community College with a 4.0 GPA and a Ford Foundation scholarship.

The 23-year-old Bowen plans to study pre-med. He’s transferring to Oregon State University in the fall, and wants to do something productive with his summer before he moves to Corvallis, he said.

“I’m kinda surprised. When I started at COCC, just under two years ago, I remember thinking to myself, my gosh, it’s going to be 2023 when I graduate, that’s so far away. And here we are,” he said.

Bowen said he’s going to miss COCC, but “you’ve gotta move on eventually; there’s only so many courses you can take there.”

Bowen’s associate degree in biology will be one of over 600 degrees and certificates awarded Saturday, June 17, at the college’s commencement. Last year, approximately 47% of degrees and certificates awarded were intended to prepare students to transfer to a four-year university.

Read more: Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer will give commencement speech for COCC graduates

A rocky start

Originally from Oceanside and Mission Viejo, California, Bowen moved to Bend when he was 14, and attended Mountain View High School. He said his high school mentor inspired him to go to OSU and study biology.

“I had always been interested in something in the medical field,” he said. “And it had been a long time since a professional had expressed to me that I had potential.”

Due to family troubles, Bowen’s grades slipped in high school. He chose COCC originally because it was local and he didn’t want to leave friends and family behind.

Though he went to COCC right out of high school, in 2018, he failed most of his classes and dropped out. He didn’t want to stop attending, he said, but he lost his financial aid and had no way to pay for further classes.

“I always had that interest, but it was kinda hard to pursue, and the course load, taking the 200-level biology series was pretty difficult when I was also dishwashing at Parrilla [Grill] and my sleep schedule wasn’t great,” he remembered.

He joined the National Guard, using the opportunity to both find discipline and get out of a bad living situation, before he went back to pursue his education.

“The whole point of doing that was just so I could get the tools to come back and focus on my education. The education never was second. I knew I had to do other things before I could go back,” he said.

Future in medicine

His mother spent her career working as a surgical technician and one of his sisters worked as a nurse, so Bowen remembered medical conversations taking place around the dinner table. He at first had an interest in biology and life science, but eventually decided he would rather spend his time helping others.

“I like the personal engagement (of family medicine). I like having long-term relationships with people, and I personally respect my primary care provider right now….He’s given me a lot of inspiration and pep talks,” Bowen said.

He has been working in the three satellite hospitals of the St. Charles Health System as a medical scribe, where he shadows a doctor throughout their shift and does their charting and notes.

“I work in the emergency room right now, and I just know how underutilized primary care and family medicine is right now for many people,” he said. “I sit in on the patient interactions, write down what happened, what the patient said — the subjective part — and the doctor will dictate to me the objective part of the interview.”

Bowen also volunteers for Partners in Care, a hospice care agency in Bend. Once a week, he talks to patients who are in hospice and who enjoy speaking with a young person.

COCC offers personal path

Bowen said he was surprised by how much he got out of his time at COCC. He joined student government and dabbled in a few clubs, and said that the professors were outstanding. The small class sizes made it easy to develop a personal relationship with his professors, he said.

Becoming engaged with his education helped him turn his experience around, Bowen said.

“At COCC, it let me develop some grit, develop the skills necessary to be successful in academia,” he said.

The assistant director of student life, Lindsay Buccafurni, mentioned another student of hers who had been awarded the Ford Foundation scholarship, and inspired Bowen to apply.

“I was going to OSU regardless, so I was either going to go and risk it with debt or I was going to go and have it completely paid for by some generous scholarship. I shot my shot, and I’m really glad it worked out,” he said.

The Ford Foundation scholarship Bowen was awarded pays for 90% of tuition at any university in either Oregon or Northern California. Bowen also has the Oregon Opportunity Grant and a few other scholarships that ensure his tuition is covered.

“I think I’m looking forward to the energy in the town. I’ve heard people who live there describe it as there’s a youthful aspect to it and it’s very lively,” he said of Corvallis. “I’m excited to be completely immersed in my education, and find groups of people with similar mindsets.”

Bowen enjoys running, yoga and tennis. He also loves music, specifically experimental music and rock.

This summer, Bowen plans to keep working and volunteering. He also wants to find something productive to help his professional development, though his professors have recommended he enjoy the summer before diving into more coursework. He said they might have the right idea.