Monroe Community College and local veteran’s agencies are creating an “Academy for Veterans Success” at the school. They want this academy to be a springboard...for a veteran’s life after the military.

MCC has one of the largest populations of student veterans in New York State. More than 500 veterans are enrolled here, most of whom are receiving educational benefits from the GI Bill.

The Academy for Veterans Success will provide veterans with the academic services they need to succeed in the classroom like tutoring and career counseling. It will also provide services for them to succeed in life with referrals to the appropriate agencies and services to help them and their families adjust to civilian life.

The Academy is a partnership with the Rochester Veterans Outreach Center.

“There can never be too many programs or too many people supporting veterans and active duty personnel. Our indebtedness and our obligation is that deep," says MCC’s interim president, Larry Tyree.

Thomas Cray is CEO of the Vets Outreach Center. He also did two tours of duty in Vietnam. When he returned home, there was nothing like this for him or the other soldiers.

He says, “Will the Academy for Veterans Success and the Institute for Veterans Studies be the success story that finally moves all of us collectively, beyond words, false hopes, failed initiatives and finally to a better place in our hearts and minds? Dear God and for the sake of this new generation of veterans and those who follow, I certainly hope so."

The Academy will also begin a Media Center so that the community can come here to learn about and discuss veterans issues. MCC expects other colleges and universities across the country to replicate the Academy.

Things the Academy is sponsoring this summer:

Children of deployed military members will come to summer camp for free at MCC during two weeks in July. The John Wegman Foundation is supporting this.

August 22-23: This two-day conference will be for professionals who work with veterans, along with veterans and their families. It will focus on medical, mental health , legal, business and educational issues

For more information head to www.monroecc.edu