这可不是你常喝的咖啡

黑步枪咖啡公司回馈伊利诺伊大学
退伍军人行动教育基金

The black firearm he carried for most of his military career inspired the name of former University of Idaho student 埃文Hafer’s brand of coffee. The sacrifice of fellow service members inspired his recent gift to a U of I veterans’ program.

这两者有着不可磨灭的联系.

Hafer, who grew up in Weippe and Lewiston and who attended U of I to study political science, 在军队里呆了20年, 主要是绿色贝雷帽.

在工作不繁忙的时候, often with a black rifle hanging from a sling on his back, 他把烘咖啡的嗜好完善了. When Hafer left the military, he turned his aromatic pastime into the multimillion-dollar 黑步枪咖啡公司.

This spring, Hafer and Black Rifle donated $50,000 to 操作的教育, a U of I scholarship program that helps veterans cover college expenses.

The gift will provide university veteran scholarship programs and the people they serve with a stronger financial base, 杰森·尼曼说, 伊利诺伊大学的主任 军事和退伍军人服务.

“It’s extremely important because it gives us predictability on how many long-term scholarships we can provide to our veteran students,尼尔曼说.

从海外战场回来后, Moscow Police Officer Jason 房子 used an 操作的教育 scholarship to earn his bachelor’s degree. 房子 served with an Army unit when he was injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq more than a decade ago.

在德州军事医院休养期间, 房子, 在德里长大的人, received a call from a veteran’s recruiter from U of I, 邀请他成为汪达尔人.

“Growing up, I never thought I’d go to college,豪斯说. “I never thought that was obtainable, but with 操作的教育, it definitely was.”

In addition to helping defray living expenses or aid in tuition, 操作的教育 programs help participants find a mentor and peer network.

“The people I met at the group’s luncheons and gatherings were a real benefit to my educational career,豪斯说. “直到今天我们仍然是朋友.”

Financial help from 操作的教育 was paramount in Jennifer Tengono’s journey to pursue a law degree.

When she left the military after eight years of service, Tengono earned a bachelor’s degree while working as a sheriff’s deputy in Utah. On assignment as a bailiff, Tengono learned about U of I’s law program.

她搬到了莫斯科, as a single mother who spent most waking hours preparing to pass the bar, 操作的教育 helped pay her costly childcare expenses.

像许多退伍军人一样, Tengono, 现在是莫斯科的一名律师, had to be encouraged to ask for the financial help that 操作的教育 provided.

“A lot of veterans don’t think they deserve it,” she said. “致所有退伍军人:你们值得.”

We know what it feels like being the new guy stepping into the corporate world for the first time after having spent the last five years running missions in Ramadi. 埃文Hafer

对于Hafer, whose 黑步枪咖啡公司 is operated mostly by veterans, the donation to 操作的教育 is in line with the company’s mission to support veterans, law enforcement and first responders with proceeds from each order.

“退伍军人很难适应, and we want to give them opportunities that will help them succeed in places where they are qualified, 但可能没有看到自己,哈弗说. “We know what it feels like being the new guy stepping into the corporate world for the first time after having spent the last five years running missions in Ramadi.”

Hafer，他是 军队参加后备役军官训练军团 他在365滚球官网期间的一个项目, will receive honorary alumni status from the university this spring.

“Evan has always kept his eye on supporting causes that are important to him,布拉德·马丁说, director of development for 军事和退伍军人服务, former professor of military science for U of I’s Chrisman Battalion and retired lieutenant colonel. “I can think of no one more deserving of the status of honorary alumni of the University of Idaho.”

Because 操作的教育 is a donor-funded scholarship, 比如Hafer 's和Black Rifle Coffee的捐赠, 会对退伍军人的现实生活产生影响吗, Nierman说.

“From assisting with books and fees to helping afford medical care, our donors have a profound influence on the experience our veterans have while completing their degree,”

Nierman说. “It’s nice to know we have gifts like this to support a veteran all the way to graduation.”

本文由 拉尔夫Bartholdt，大学传播与市场营销.

埃文Hafer photo submitted and used with permission.

Other photography by University of Idaho Creative 服务.

2021年5月出版.