NINA BANKS
campus editor
nina.banks@my.tccd.edu

SE Campus hosted a breakfast to honor military service on Oct. 28 and was available to all staff and students and was celebrated as part of TCC’s week long Veterans Day celebration.

SE veterans counselor Christy McDonald coordinated the breakfast. The event was a chance to show her appreciation for the students and staff who have served.

“The event is important to me because it is an opportunity to serve those who have served our country,” McDonald said. “Although I can express my gratitude to our veterans for their service through my words, then event allows me to show appreciation through my actions which veterans have stated are far more meaningful.”

The military breakfast was one of the events this week that celebrated Veterans Day, with a luncheon being held on Monday at TR Campus.

“The military breakfast is a time to give back to our service members by providing them with refreshments and an opportunity to visit with other veterans or military-connected students, faculty or staff members,” McDonald said.

Among those in attendance was SE student Jason Hu, who served in the Marine Corps for four years. He expressed appreciation for events celebrating veterans.

“It’s actually really nice,” Hu said. “One of the things I often talk about is how helpful and supportive the veteran community is here. Doing events like this is a really good way to show people care.”

SE student Robert Harris served 10 years in the Army. His education at TCC is an opportunity to further the knowledge he can provide to his children.

“It means a lot to me,” Harris said. “I’m the veteran of my family so I’m trying to start generational wealth and teach my kids everything. Pretty much teach them everything I’ve learned and further that by coming to college.”

TCC provides several services for veterans to bridge the transition after leaving the service including: counseling, registration assistance and many more. McDonald acknowledged the importance of creating connections for veteran students.

“Connection is considered instrumental in student veterans’ academic and personal success,” McDonald said.

For Hu, these services have been instrumental in easing back to civilian life.

“The support staff here is really great,” Hu said. “The military prepares you so much for everything you do that once you get out, they’re like ‘alright, here’s your paperwork, bye’ and so it’s really nice to have people sort of ease you back into that space in life.”

With events like these, McDonald hopes to show TCC’s gratitude for veterans on campus.

“TCC values our veterans because the institution recognizes the sacrifice and service of our veteran students, faculty, staff and community members,” McDonald said. “TCC also acknowledges the skills and leadership qualities veterans bring to our classrooms and the workplace developed during their time in the military.”