VETERANS
veterans pay for job training, college, graduate school —
tuition and fees, books and supplies, and housing, according
to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Here we can coordinate wrap-around support services for
our student veterans from a single location,” Moore said.
The center provides services designed to remove the
burden of having to find what veterans need themselves.
Those services include an academic adviser, benefits adviser,
registration and application advising, records services and
tutoring services.
U.S. Navy recruiter Glenn Legwin shares a laugh with a group of event
attendees, including Christine Denaro, right, as he explains the many
advantages offered to students who have served in the military at the new
Veterans Center of Excellence. Many residents, veterans and students were
at the opening of the center.
The center is in Building D, which is better known as the
home of the Schreiber Conference Center, named for the late
Port St. Lucie resident Strelsa Schreiber who was a college
foundation board member, newspaper columnist and a
person much loved by the community. Besides advisers
offices it also houses a computer lab, a student veterans
lounge, classrooms for study and a conference room for
events such as Veterans Affairs workshops, career fairs and
other gatherings. The same building also is home to support
programs for nonveterans.
Treadwell said veterans organizations will be able to use
the larger space. Student veterans can relax and chat with
James S. “Hammer” Hartsell, executive director of the state Department of
Veterans Affairs and a retired Marine Corps major general, addresses attendees
during opening ceremonies for the center.
Two veterans salute during the opening ceremony of the Veterans Center of
Excellence which houses the veterans Wall of Honor.
each other in the lounge, and there will be a monthly roundtable
discussion on topics of interest.
The site also houses the Indian River State College Veterans
Center of Excellence Wall of Honor, a permanent recognition
of veterans.
“Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our nation and
for each of us, and with the new center, we are poised to help
them throughout their academic journey — from application
to graduation and beyond,” Moore said. E
A mine resistance ambush protection vehicle is displayed at the IRSC Pruitt
Campus outside of the new Veterans Center of Excellence.
Port St. Lucie Magazine 31