New Honor and Renovated Lounge for Student Veterans
During a Veterans Day ceremony on campus, Howard Community College announced it has been named a 2016 Military Friendly® School. This is the fourth year in a row that Howard Community College has achieved this prestigious honor, which goes to the top colleges, universities, and trade schools that are doing the most to support and embrace military students and dedicate resources to ensure their success in the classroom and after graduation. More than 300 veterans are enrolled as students at Howard Community College this semester.
The Military Friendly® School award is presented by Victory Media, the publisher of G.I. Jobs®, STEM JobsSM, and Military Spouse. The Military Friendly Schools® designation provides service members with data-driven ratings about post-military education and career opportunities.
“Post-secondary institutions earning the 2016 Military Friendly® School award have exceptionally strong programs for transitioning service members and spouses,” said Daniel Nichols, chief product officer of Victory Media and Navy Reserve veteran. “Our Military Friendly® Schools are truly aligning their military programs and services with employers to help students translate military experience, skills and training into successful careers after graduation.”
Howard Community College also announced that its Student Veterans Organization was awarded an $8,777 grant from the Vet Center Initiative grant program, which is a partnership between the Home Depot Foundation and the Student Veterans of America, to fund the renovation of the Military and Veteran Student Lounge on campus.
“The Student Veterans Organization is honored to have been selected as a grant award winner,” said Harley Gomez, president of the Howard Community College Student Veterans Organization and veteran. “We wanted the renovation to create unity and synergy among the veterans, who served in various branches of the military, and I am proud that we successfully achieved our goal.”
Located in Duncan Hall, the lounge underwent a complete transformation over the summer. With hardwood desks, leather seating, a television, and coffee machine purchased at Home Depot, military and veteran students have found it a welcoming and comfortable space to study, relax, eat, and talk after classes.
To learn more about the Vet Center Initiative grant, visitstudentveterans.org/index.php/programs/vetcenter-initiative. Additional information about the Military Friendly® Schools list is available at militaryfriendly.com.
For more information about Howard Community College’s Office of Veterans Affairs and its commitment to military and veteran students, visit www.howardcc.edu/veterans.
Photos from HCC's 2015 Veterans Day ceremony are available online at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/howardcc/albums/72157658766145834.