INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE NEWS
GRANT TO ENHANCE SERVICES FOR VETERANS ENROLLED AT IRSC
26
IRSC REMEMBERS ROY LAMBERT,
ENTREPRENEUR, VISIONARY AND FRIEND
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Indian River State College has received a
$449,966 grant from the U.S. Department
of Education to establish the IRSC Center
of Excellence for Veteran Student Success.
The college was one of only 16 higher
education institutions nationwide selected
for the award. The grant will help the
college connect student veterans with
additional academic, financial, physical
and social support services through a new
Veterans Center of Excellence set to open
later this year on the IRSC Pruitt Campus in
Port St. Lucie.
“As a military veteran, I know firsthand
that the transition from the service to
civilian life comes with a unique set of
challenges,” college president, Dr. Timothy
Moore, said. “We are grateful to the Department
of Education for this opportunity
to create the IRSC Veterans Center of Excellence.
Here we can coordinate wraparound
support services for our student veterans
from a single location. 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.”
IRSC serves more than 500 student
veterans each year. Through enhanced
services and physical space made possible
by the grant, IRSC aims to increase enrollment
among veterans and also improve
the retention and completion rates of
these students. A project director, advising
staff and part-time tutors will support
these efforts.
“The goal is to help our veterans connect
with education to build a solid future
for themselves and their families,” Moore
said. “Whatever we can do as higher
education professionals to facilitate that
connection and help our veterans stay the
course is not just our responsibility; it is a
privilege.” v
More than 25 years ago, Roy Lambert,
an entrepreneur from Vero Beach, approached
Indian River State College president,
Dr. Edwin Massey, about honoring
local entrepreneurs. His idea was to recognize
established business leaders in hopes
of also inspiring budding entrepreneurs.
From those conversations emerged the
IRSC Foundation’s annual Entrepreneur
of the Year event and a more than twodecades
long celebration of the region’s
luminary business founders who exemplify
exceptional commitments to the free
enterprise system and have had positive
impacts in both their personal and professional
lives.
Today, the college and the foundation
mourn the passing of entrepreneur, philanthropist
and friend, Roy Lambert.
Lambert’s commitment to IRSC and the
entrepreneurial spirit continued beyond
the awards program he helped establish.
He founded the college’s Dan K. Richardson
Entrepreneurship Program that
encourages entrepreneurship through
education and supports student entrepreneurial
activities and instructional
programs. Each facet of the program
reinforces the principles of free enterprise
that have made this nation great.
“Mr. Lambert has left a legacy on the college
and on me personally because he has
encouraged us to think in entrepreneurial
ways with our educational endeavors,” said
Ann Decker, executive director of the IRSC
Foundation. “Mr. Lambert has been a true
inspiration to everyone at IRSC.” v
BY SUZANNE SELDES
BY SUZANNE SELDES
Roy Lambert was
instrumental in
establishing Indian
River State College
Foundation’s annual
Entrepreneur of the
Year event.
MOLLY BARTELS
Indian River State College has received a federal
grant to help fund its Center of Excellence for
Veteran Student Success.
MOLLY BARTELS
IRSC serves more
than 500 student
veterans each year.
/TCBusiness.com