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Today, I was able to join in the Grand Opening of the Coastline College Student Services Center in Fountain Valley. Among those I met, there was a student veteran who learned about his educational benefits because of Coastline's Veterans Resource Centers.
Coordinator Tom Boscamp extends an open invitation for all veterans in the cities around all three Coastline campuses to find a community and learn about veterans' programs and services. The student veteran I met today, Luther Getter, successfully graduated from Coastline College with Tom's help and then graduated from California State University, Fullerton. Thanks to Tom, Luther is leveraging his education and his military experience to continue making a difference with an associate's and bachelor's in Human Services.
The transformative power of our veterans' services staff extends districtwide. The Veteran Resource Center at Golden West College continues to serve all veterans, active duty, and military connected students with holistic services through a case management approach. The GWC Student Veteran Organization has taken a leadership role with activities supporting a healthy lifestyle and engagement outside the classroom.
At Orange Coast College, the Veterans' Resource Center has seen about 400 individual check-ins in its new space and now employs the service of six work-study student assistants, three staff members, and a dedicated academic counselor who engage, support, and guide student veterans. Over $40,000 in direct aid has been extended to OCC student veterans by way of emergency grants, basic needs support, textbook vouchers, and instructional materials.
And, to return to Coastline, the college VRCs launched a "Hope Heroes" program serving incarcerated veterans assisting with documents, school supplies, and books. Emergency grants continue to be given locally to assist veterans with rent, cell phone payments, car repairs, and other basic needs, with support from community organizations and sponsors.
Since we are off tomorrow, in honor of our veterans, the colleges held celebrations in recognition of current and former military service members throughout the week. On Friday, November 4th, Coastline hosted a Veterans BBQ sponsored by the Seal Beach Lions Club. OCC held its ceremony and lunch on the quad yesterday. And GWC held a ceremony today at the flagpole with speakers and performances.
Military service is something that defines a person. The values instilled, hardships endured, and skills gained should be honored. We in education can serve a role in directing those attributes and experiences into a life of continued meaning. One of the hardest things for veterans leaving the military is a loss of community. It is up to us to become their community.
With gratitude,
Whitney
Whitney Yamamura, Ed.D.
Chancellor
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