New Veterans Resource Center Open

Evergreen Welcomes Student Vets to Military-Friendly Campus

(Olympia, Wash.) A new Veterans Resource Center, headed by an experienced new director, will welcome potential and current veteran students at an open house November 13th at The Evergreen State College’s Olympia campus.

“The new Veterans Resource Center is a one-stop shop for vets, where they can get advice about education and other benefits, and get help with academic, financial, medical or personal issues,” said center director Randy Kelley.

Kelley, a retired Navy commander with years of experience working with veterans around the U.S., sees Evergreen as a strong fit for returning military eager to make use of their earned benefits.

Evergreen programs are ideal for military, dependents and veterans because they are tailored to each individual’s prior schooling, training and experience,” said Kelley. “Evergreen is about success and is dedicated to making sure that each person who joins the Evergreen family succeeds. And there is one thing that Evergreen does better than any school I have seen and that is they truly teach critical thinking.”

The new center, located on the first floor of the Evergreen library, caps a five-year effort by the college to increase resources available to active duty, reserve, dependents and veteran students. The Veterans of Evergreen Transition and Support Committee, consisting of faculty, staff and veterans, was appointed in 2007 to provide and maintain robust support for vets on campus. These efforts have earned Evergreen status as a “Certified Military Friendly School” by G.I. Jobs, a magazine and website operated by veterans that links employers and educators to active duty military, dependents and veterans.

The open house runs from 11 to 3 p.m. on November 13. For additional information on Evergreen, military education and other benefits for veterans, contact the Veterans Resource Center at 360-867-6254, email: veterans@evergreen.edu.