Rancho Santiago Community College District Provides Critical Support to Student Veterans – Orange County Register

Serving as a vital support center, the Veterans Resource Centers on the Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College campuses provide veterans with the resources and community they need to thrive both academically and personally. Both colleges and universities serve more than 1,000 students, veterans, spouses and their dependents each year.

About 10 years ago, the Santa Ana College Veterans Resource Center began with a simple table in front of the student center, led by financial aid specialist Dorothy Swayne and counselors John Acuña and Jane Mathis. Currently, SAC’s VRC supports nearly 600 students each year as they transition from the military to college and civilian life.

At the time, SAC was the only California community college with a Veterans Upward Bound program, funded by a U.S. Department of Education TRiO grant. Currently, the VUB program assists 125 new student veterans at SAC annually by providing the academic skills necessary for postsecondary success through advising, mentoring and tutoring.

1 With 5

From left, Adam McManamy, Elizabeth Bergara and Steven Stenersen of the Veterans Resource Center at Santiago Canyon College pose for a photo in Orange, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, contributing photographer)

Increase

To support more student veterans, SAC has been approved to provide TRiO Student Veteran Support Services, currently serving 120 veterans annually with academic advising, career exploration and financial aid counseling, including GI Bill benefits.

Additionally, SAC receives grant support from the Santa Ana College Foundation, as well as community partners such as US Bank, the Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation, and the Tierney Center for Veterans Services and Working Clothes. These resources translate into assistance for student veterans and their dependents, providing support with academics, basic needs and career readiness.

“We’re working hard to make sure all of our students have what they need to remove barriers,” said Brenda Estrada, SAC’s director of special programs, who has served as the inaugural director of the Veterans Resource Center since 2016. “We have been able to identify these needs and begin to fill these gaps, giving students the opportunity to continue their education. We don’t help just one student. We influence the whole family.”

Peer support is an integral part of the assistance student veterans receive while at SAC, and through VRC’s Peer Advisors for Veterans Education program, current student veterans become peer advisors to new student veterans arriving on campus. These same students go on to influence the SAC community in other ways, such as seasoned student Jessica Velez, who is the current president of the Associated Student Body.

“The transition from the military to higher education is difficult,” Estrada said. “Providing them with the power to self-present and empower their peers is extremely important. It keeps them engaged.”

Top 10 ranking

At Santiago Canyon College, nearly 450 student veterans, their spouses and their dependents receive assistance through the school’s Veterans Resource Center. After several years of sharing the space, SCC is now in its third year of operation as a stand-alone facility and provides school veterans with a one-stop shop for access to counseling, tutoring and career assistance.

Because many student veterans come to campus with prior academic experience and skills acquired in the military, SCC offers several short-term programs that prepare students for their careers. Whether it’s a real estate program or a national school water science program, students can enter the job market in a short period of time while earning a satisfactory salary.

“I think what sets us apart is the hands-on trade opportunities for veterans,” said LaKyshia Perez, associate dean for student services at SCC. “Our students can take several classes in one semester and find a job with a fair wage. They want to use the skills they learned in the military in the real world, and I think that’s one of the areas where we try to help our veterans.”

Over the past seven years, the SCC Veterans Resource Center has received from Viqtory, Inc. Military Friendly designation, a trademarked standard that measures an organization’s commitment to creating opportunities for the military community. SCC earned Top 10 Gold/Spouse Friendly distinction for the 2024-2025 academic year on metrics such as graduation rate, grade point average, retention rate and emergency funding, which ranks the school’s veteran support program among the top 10 in the nation and one of the top with only two community colleges offering this type of program in California.

“We are truly passionate about helping our veterans and their dependents, and it shows in (receiving) this award,” said Elizabeth Bergara, student services coordinator for SCC’s Office of Veterans Affairs. “This reaffirms our commitment to our students, helping them transition into higher education.”

Earlier this month, Santa Ana College hosted a Veterans Day Resource Fair to honor those who have served the community and raise awareness of student veterans on campus.

On November 4 at 12:30 p.m., Santiago Canyon College will begin a weeklong celebration of veterans with an on-campus recognition ceremony.

“They served our country,” said Perez, who is also a dependent veteran. “The least we can do is provide them with support so they can continue with their lives after their military service ends. They contribute to our society in many ways.”