Greenville Technical College opened a third Student Veterans Center as a place where veterans can gather, study, and feel part of a supportive community. The centers are made possible through several gifts from Lockheed Martin totaling $20,000.
All three centers – one on the Barton Campus, one at the Northwest Campus, and a third at the college’s Buck Mickel Center – provide an inviting space complete with computer tables and comfortable furniture.
“These centers mean a lot to our student veterans,” said Dr. Alecia Watt, director of educational opportunity programs at Greenville Technical College, who spearheaded efforts to expand the centers to multiple locations. “It gives them a safe space to relax, study, get a free cup of coffee, communicate, and form strong support systems with other student veterans on campus. Students with strong support systems, on and off campus, tend to be much more successful in college.”
“Lockheed Martin is honored to help give back to those who give so much for our nation,” said Don Erickson, site director of the Lockheed Martin Greenville site. “We are dedicated to supporting our veterans and service members with programs that improve their lives and the lives of their families, enhance educational and training opportunities – with resources such as the Student Veterans Centers – and honor their selfless duty to our country.”
The Student Veterans Center adds to a group of services for student veterans at Greenville Technical College. Scholarships are available to veterans thanks to the Fluor Foundation and Hollingsworth Funds. In addition, special counseling and tutoring services have been made available with support from the Wal Mart Foundation.