Page 18 - Flathead Beacon // 1.22.13

18 | JANUARY 29, 2014
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Pat Gambing, U.S. Army veteran and current member of Montana Army National Guard’s
495th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, receives help from Sherry Taylor while
applying for veteran education beneits in the Veterans Center at Flathead Valley Com-
munity College on Jan. 21. GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON

VETS CENTER
Last semester there were 143 stu-
Continued from page 5
dents with veteran beneits attending
FVCC, including 120 veterans. An esti-
in the computer lab or library, or staying mated 2.5 million men and women are
after class to ask his teachers questions.
expected to return home from military
“I was determined to be successful,” service across the U.S. in the coming
he says. “I had a lot of questions, but I years.

never got turned away. Even students I “Veterans are one of the highest pop-
asked for help at the library helped me. ulations of unemployed when they irst
The more that I got into the school, the come home because their jobs have been
opportunities just opened. It gave me taken over by somebody else while they
back a sense of my own empowerment. I were gone,” says Sherry Taylor, the of-
have hope. I don’t have to sit there wait- icer at FVCC’s Veterans’ Center and a
ing for a check once a month. I’m not go- inancial aid specialist. “So most people
ing to do that. There’s still a lot more to don’t just come home and instantly have

live.”
a job. So if they can’t ind a job, lots of
He now commutes from Thompson times going to school they can get some
Falls almost every day, taking ive class- extra training so they’re more qualiied
es at FVCC and entering the inal semes- for a job. It can be a nice transition for
ter of a degree in social work. His goal them.”
after graduating is to help people with The new center was created using a
substance abuse and addiction therapy, $30,000 grant from the state’s Oice of
to ofer a helping hand like the one he the Commissioner of Higher Education.

was once given.
Taylor works with anyone who needs
Looking at his life today, the 55-year- help navigating the transition from mili-
old is quick to give credit to those who tary service to civilian life, not just those
helped him, especially FVCC and its new who are students at FVCC. She com-
Veterans’ Center.
monly hears amazing stories, like Dan-
In August, the community college iels’.
established a new setting speciically de- “I get to spend so much time with the

signed for veterans. It’s centrally locat- students now and so I get to know them
ed on campus in a room formally used a lot better now,” she says. “Especially
by the paramedicine department, and students like Rob, hearing his story and
features computers, tables and a small what he’s gone through and where he’s
kitchen area. The center provides access at now. He’s a straight A student. He just
to resources, including counseling ser- tells me all the time how much he appre-
vices, as well as a support oicer to help ciates having the Veterans’ Center here.”
with inancial aid beneits or questions A group of veteran students, includ-

about employment, housing and more. ing Daniels and Granzow, based in the
The new center also ofers students a new center is rallying funds for future
place to study and interact with fellow scholarships and community events in-
veterans.
volving veterans.
“Once you get out of the military you For more information, contact Sher-
lose that bond and that camaraderie, so ry Taylor at (406) 756-3982 or staylor@
it’s nice to have a place where like-mind- fvcc.edu.

ed people can come together,” says Am- FVCC is hosting a public infor-
ber Granzow, a 28-year-old student at mational session tailored to veterans
FVCC who served for ive years in the on Feb. 13 at the Arts and Technology
U.S. Air Force and remains active in the Building, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. The ses-
National Guard.
sion will feature Dr. Peter Schmidt, a li-
The new center was created after censed mental health counselor, and a
President Jane Karas focused eforts on workshop featuring an overview of the
helping veterans on campus and began cultural transition and resources avail-

asking faculty how FVCC could improve able to veterans.
its abilities.
[email protected]