VETERANS
FEDERAL GRANT FUNDS VETERANS
CENTER ON THE PRUITT CAMPUS
The lobby in Building D, more commonly known as the home of the Schreiber Conference Center, welcomes visitors to the new Veterans Center of Excellence
Hundreds of veterans will walk a smoother path to
civilian life and a good career with the help of the
new Veterans Center of Excellence at Indian River
State College’s Pruitt Campus.
Designed especially for them with the help of a $449,966
grant from the U.S.
Department of Education, the center pulls together a
variety of veteran-related services and puts it all together
in one building.
“It’s a great resource for veterans,” said student Robert
Rodgers, 35, a Navy veteran and medic who served for
13.5 years. “If you’ve never been to college it can be intimidating,
but here, if there are things you need or want
to know, help is there with just one phone call. They take
care of everything.”
Part of the federal funding is going toward the expansion
of the college’s veterans center on its Fort Pierce
campus. At least 500 veterans attend IRSC but St. Lucie
County is home to 24,000 veterans. The Treasure Coast,
including Okeechobee County, is home to 57,000 veterans.
The Veterans Center of Excellence
will make life easier.
“As a military veteran, I
know firsthand that the transition
INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE PHOTOS
from the service to civilian
life comes with a unique
set of challenges,” IRSC
president, Dr. Timothy Moore,
said. “We are grateful to the
U.S. Department of Education
for this opportunity.”
The grant helps pay for
two full-time advisers who
help students with their GI
benefits, said Andy Treadwell, president of the campus
named for former state Senate President Ken Pruitt.
“We want our advisers to tell them how and where to
get what they need so they can start here and get all the
way to the end graduate,” Treadwell said.
The GI Bill of Rights in its current form helps eligible
30 Port St. Lucie Magazine
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on Indian River State College’s Pruitt Campus in Port St. Lucie.
BY SUSAN BURGESS
Andy Treadwell, campus president,
says the funds will help
pay for two advisers to help
students with their G.I. benefits.