(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA)—Delaware County Community College celebrated Veterans Day on November 11 by opening a new center to support its 467 student veterans. Christine Kohute, Assessment Advisor, created the lounge which serves as a resource center and meeting site for the new Veterans Club. Equipped with laptops, periodicals and other materials, the center carves out a unique space where students can share their military experiences and obtain information and assistance with their veterans’ benefits.

Students visiting the center represented various branches of the military, including U. S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, and the National Guard. While most students had served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Tim Purcell had served in Vietnam from 1967-1968. Purcell is enrolled in the residential electrical program and obtained a certificate from the College’s HVAC program in May 2011.

Brittany Bailey worked as a weapons technician in Iraq and in communications support in Afghanistan. Bailey is studying anthropology, an interest that developed during her tours in Iraq and Afghanistan where she became interested in other cultures and lifestyles.

In September, the College was recognized by G.I. Jobs magazine as a Military Friendly School for 2012. This honor places the College in the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools nationwide. According to G. I. Jobs, the competition this year was “fierce” and the already stringent criteria for the award had to be raised to a higher benchmark. G.I. Jobs states that this recognition places the College among “the elite.”