Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/362354
AUGUST 13-19, 2014 UCW 11 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM As our nation and our community scrutinize the current state of affairs in medical care for our vets, there is reason to take pride in other ways we have stepped up to better serve those who have bravely served our coun- try. At Fayetteville Tech, no fewer than 3,000 veterans have enrolled since 2012. That's among the Top 5 veteran enrollments in the country and number one in the state for community colleges. Military Times has ranked FTCC as second highest on their list of Best for Vets for Career and Tech- nical Colleges in 2014. The creation of the All-American Veterans Center (which recently held its grand opening on June 16) supports veterans as they transition to being successful students and employed graduates. The state-of-the-art, 3,500-square-foot All-American Veterans Center serves as a role model for other campuses seeking to support our returning and retir- ing military personnel. A significant characteristic of FTCC's Veterans Center is that it is man- aged and staffed by veterans. The one-stop-shop concept at the Center promotes not only certifying educational benefits but also connecting veterans with other support, whether or not the veteran is an FTCC student. The impact to the community represents an outreach to as many as 10,000 veterans in that FTCC's center offers assistance to all veter- ans. Physical space within the Veterans' Center is provided to the many daily volunteers who represent the DAV, American Legion, VFW, Patriot Outreach, Cumberland County VA, Fayetteville Workforce Solutions and N.C. National Guard. Partnerships have also been created with the local Wounded Warrior Project office, VAforVets recruiter, Kangaroo Express, Walmart, Home Depot, and several other local veteran-friendly businesses which support FTCC's initiatives for veterans. Perhaps the best measure of the center's and FTCC's success with veter- ans is our graduation rate. Of the 3,000 veterans enrolled since 2012, 987 graduated in 2012-13, and another 872 graduated this past May. Over this summer, FTCC saw a 9 percent increase in veterans' enrollment over last year, prior to the creation of the center. And with a current growth of 3 percent projected for the fall, FTCC's All-American Veterans Center is making a significant impact within our community by stepping up efforts to serve all veterans. Engagement through networking with various agencies and companies and attending local meetings of other organizations, who strive to help veterans, helps to increase awareness about the Center and promote ways that various organizations can work together to do the most to help our veterans. Organizations involved with this networking include Community Blueprint, Veterans All-Call, Military family and child/Living in the New Normal, and other active duty spouse groups. The All-American Veter- ans Center offers résumé workshops, hiring events from local employers, academic and career counseling, and in-house tutoring from faculty. The center is equipped with a lounge with cable, a computer lab, a coffee bar, popcorn, and an employment resource center. We invite you to visit the All-American Veterans Center located inside the General Classroom Building (Fayetteville campus, 2817 Fort Bragg Road) to see firsthand the unique extension of care, service and honor that Fayetteville Technical Community College is providing our veterans (thewesm@fay- techcc.edu or (910) 678-8580). FTCC's All-American Veterans Center More Than Educational Advising by MATTHEW THEWES Matthew Thewes, Director of Veterans Services at FTCC. COM- MENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. Christian Conference for Women Daughters of Christ Ministry, Inc. extends a heartfelt "Thank You" to the following people and businesses who sponsored our July 2014 Christian Conference for Women in one or more ways. We praise the Lord Jesus Christ for their sacrificial and generous gifts! • PLATINUM • Dr. and Mrs. Aureliano Sifuentes, Jr. Nona Fisher, Bottom Line Accounting Anonymous Donors Scholarship Fund Donors • GOLD • Jim Cooke, WFNC 640AM (Cumulus Radio Station) Ramona Moore & Deanna Morgan, Holiday Inn Bordeaux Sales Team Sophia Fiorentino, Avon Representative • SILVER • Arran Lake Baptist Church Carlos Suarez, Photographer Carol Church Cathey Deweese, CatPav Publishing Chick-fil-A of Ramsey Street Chick-fil-A of Skibo Road Covenant Love Church Dave Godsey, Extra Mile Audio Harvest Baptist Church Hay Street UMC, United Methodist Women Lisa Bledsoe, Peace Haven Massage Therapy Marci Mang, Marci Mang Cakes Sherry Norton, Sherry & Co., LLC, Vendor Tom and Marilyn Price Truccos Nail Salon Bill Bowman & Linda McAlister, Up & Coming Weekly Village Baptist Church Mr. Curt Nunnery, WAZZ 1490AM Dan, Jackie, Dee & Jen, WCLN 107.3FM and WGQR 105.7FM • BRONZE • Alicia Sharpe, Author Array Magazine Berry Adult Bible Study Class, Arran Lake Baptist Church Bill and Angie Biddix, Keystone Construction & Consulting LLC Carol Joly Celia Coutouzis Darlene Cancer, Genetix Hair Studio & Spa Denise Jackson, Natural Alternatives for Healthy Living, Vendor Earl Vaughn, Jr., The Fayetteville Observer Fayetteville Family Chiropractic Freedom Christian Academy, Vendor Galinda Barefoot, MaryKay Representative, Vendor Irene Morrison Kim Jeffreys, Singer Kim Usher, Musician Lifeway Christian Stores Linda Barbour Margaret Frykholm Minerva Sims, Author Naadira Alcedo Pamela Frisbee Sarah Rodriguez Sweet Frog of Good Middling Drive Terzel Brown