A ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new Veterans Center on the DSLCC campus was held March 24. Pictured, from left; Becki Hise and Bryan Secoy, who staff the new center; Ambler Dumler, from Congressman Morgan Griffith’s office; Joy Broyles, DSLCC Assistant Director of Student Services and Coordinator of Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs; and DSLCC President Dr. John Rainone. In the background are Isaac Sarver, Senator Mark Warner’s office; Gwen Mason, Senator Tim Kaine’s office; and Delegate Terry Austin. For more information call (540) 863-2856 or email veterans@dslcc.edu.

Veterans Center Opens at DSLCC   A new center to assist military veterans in furthering their educational goals has opened on Dabney S Lancaster Community College Clifton Forge campus, located in the Armory/Convocation Center. A ribbon cutting was held March 24 to celebrate the opening of the DSLCC Veterans Center. “Helping students to become successful through education, support, advocacy and mentoring are some of the core principles of community colleges across the country,” said DSLCC President Dr. John Rainone. “Nowhere is this more apparent than in DSLCC's support in the readjustment and success of student veterans, reservists and military dependents. “This new Veterans Center provides a comprehensive ‘one-stop’ to veterans seeking academic support, provide individualized enrollment and referral services to assist veterans and dependents in successfully meeting their educational and career goals.” Dr. Rainone recognized the efforts of Joy Broyles in making the Veterans Center a reality. Broyles, DSLCC Assistant Director of Student Services and Coordinator of Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs, submitted a request for funding to the Office of Veterans Affairs and was awarded funding for two part-time student workers to staff the Veterans Center. The two staff members are Becki Hise of Craigsville, whose husband, Chris, is an Army reservist, and Bryan Secoy of Millboro, who served aboard a submarine while in the Navy. Hise and Secoy are pursuing degrees in business management and science, respectively, at DSLCC. Several officials were on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony: Terry Austin, of the Virginia House of Delegates; Gwen Mason, representing Senator Tim Kaine; Isaac Sarver, representing Senator Mark Warner; and Ambler Dumler, representing Congressman Morgan Griffith. Dr. Rainone pointed out that DSLCC has been recognized for the last six years by G.I. Jobs magazine as a Military Friendly School, placing the college in the top 16 percent of all schools nationwide. “DSLCC has become a leader in student veteran support,” said Dr. Rainone. “This Center is merely the latest example of that commitment, and we look forward to continuing our efforts as a united college community.” The Veterans Center’s hours of operation are Mondays and Wednesdays, 11 am to 3:30 pm; Tuesdays, 11 am to 3:30 pm; Thursdays, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm; and Fridays, 11 am to 3 pm. For more information call (540) 863-2856 or email veterans@dslcc.edu.

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