95.3 / 88.5 FM Grand Rapids and 95.3 FM Muskegon
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

GRCC celebrates opening of new Veterans Center

Veterans Center dedication and ribbon cutting, Main Campus, on 10/06/2021. © Photography by Steve Jessmore, Steve Jessmore Photography
Steve Jessmore
/
GRCC
Veterans Center dedication and ribbon cutting, Main Campus, on 10/06/2021. © Photography by Steve Jessmore, Steve Jessmore Photography

Grand Rapids Community College provides veterans services to more than 400 students.

Grand Rapids Community College has made a commitment to educating military veterans. It’s now enhanced with the dedication of the Veterans Center situated in downtown Grand Rapids’ renovated Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall.

“This is work that this institution has been doing for decades in supporting our veteran students who come through these doors.”

Bill Pink is GRCC President. He says it’s the least the college can do for students who have dedicated their lives serving the country.

The Veterans Center will provide advising services, Veterans Administration work-study positions, tutoring, academic and support services along with processing Veterans Administration benefits.

U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer is a U.S. Army veteran deployed to Iraq. The Grand Rapids Republican says support is critical transitioning from the military to college life.

“When they come to GRCC. When they come to pursue that education to make good on that benefit that was earned, that they are setting themselves up for the next stage of their life.”

The Veterans Center made possible through a 2020 grant from the U.S. Education Department.

Patrick joined WGVU Public Media in December, 2008 after eight years of investigative reporting at Grand Rapids' WOOD-TV8 and three years at WYTV News Channel 33 in Youngstown, Ohio. As News and Public Affairs Director, Patrick manages our daily radio news operation and public interest television programming. An award-winning reporter, Patrick has won multiple Michigan Associated Press Best Reporter/Anchor awards and is a three-time Academy of Television Arts & Sciences EMMY Award winner with 14 nominations.