WBU, Sheppard maintain strong relationship Published Sept. 22, 2009 By Airman 1st Class Candy Miller 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas -- Not only did almost 70 of Sheppard's smartest Airmen graduate from Wayland Baptist University Sept. 21, but the graduation continued the history of a strong relationship between the base and school. Dr. Elane Seebo, the associate vice president of external campuses for WBU, said the story began in the 1970s when military members were returning from their overseas assignments. Servicemembers struggled to receive an education because most classes were scheduled during their duty hours. WBU, which was already offering classes to support the military at the primary location in Plainview, Texas, wanted to help and live up to their standard of serving God and humanity. The school began giving credit toward a bachelor's degree for military training in 1970 and launched their first external location at Sheppard in 1973. The school provided night classes to support military education, she said. "It's such a good fit with the mission," Dr. Seebo said. "We have a great respect for the military population and their core values mesh with ours." Students like Master Sgt. Timothy Owens, 382nd Training Squadron, appreciated the work WBU does to help Sheppard members further their education. He said he respects the professors for their ability to teach adults that already have careers and schedules that may make it difficult to continue their education. "It can't be easy to teach professional adults," Sergeant Owens said. "Not one professor simply taught the syllabus and called it a day. "There is a cost to education and a good measure of that cost can't be measured in books or tuition, but in sacrifices and time," he said. Sergeant Owens said WBU tries to give knowledge that students can apply in the "real world." The graduation was also "a significant time in history" as the first WBU graduation of the second hundred years of the school.