Montgomery County Community College: MCCC Receives $28,575 Grant For Student Veterans

Press release from the Montgomery County Community College:

Diane VanDyke

October 4, 2021

A recent grant award will help Montgomery County Community College continue its commitment to support
student veterans as they transition from military to college life.

MCCC is among 20 charitable or veteran service organizations in the Commonwealth to
receive grant funds from the Veterans’ Trust Fund, a fund administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veteran Affairs. The VTF grants are funded by Pennsylvanians who voluntarily make a $3 donation when
applying for or renewing their driver’s license, photo ID, or a motor vehicle registration. 
Additionally, the VTF receives proceeds that come from the sale of the Honoring Our
Veterans and Honoring Our Women Veterans license plates, or by making private donations.
Since the grant program began in 2013, a total of $4,532,860 has been awarded to organizations
that serve Pennsylvania veterans.

Veterans’ Trust Fund Military and Veteran Affairs

MCCC will use the $28,575 to provide additional supportive services to student veterans
through its Veterans Resource Center (VRC) at its Blue Bell Campus. The VRC provides
student veterans with a place where they can meet and network with other veteran students
and receive assistance from Matthew Benko, MCCC Manager of Veterans Services and Judicial
Affairs, and Kathleen Bullen, MCCC VRC/SCO and Enrollment Services Specialist.

Similarly, MCCC has a Veterans Resource Office in North Hall at its Pottstown Campus
where student veterans can meet with Charles Storti, MCCC Veterans Services Resource
Specialist.

MCCC will use the grant funds for items to support student veterans, including video-conferencing
equipment that will connect students virtually to the Veterans Administration, computer
equipment, a security system for the VRC and an electronic awning for the deck area
used for gatherings at the VRC, among other items.

“We try to build a community among our veteran students so they feel safe and comfortable
on our campuses and know they have the support and services they need to accomplish
their goals,” said Bullen, who has been taking the lead in Blue Bell while Benko is
deployed with the National Guard.

MCCC serves more than 200 student veterans. In addition, the dedicated spaces for
student veterans, MCCC has a Student Veterans Organization that meets and holds activities
virtually and will be having on-campus meetings and events this year as students return
to campus. The group engages in advocacy, education concerning veterans’ issues and
volunteers with community service opportunities.

Over the years, MCCC has been recognized several times as a military-friendly school
by G.I. Jobs magazine for its support of veteran-students and service members. In
2019, MCCC earned the PNGAS Guard-Friendly School designation by the Pennsylvania National Guard Associations. MCCC also offers credit
for eligible military experience and training through its Prior Learning Assessment.

This press release was produced by the Montgomery County Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.