Center of Excellence – Homeland Security Emergency Management

The Veteran Student Center at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom is a designated space for veteran students to gather, study, and connect with other veterans. The Center offers information, services and resources, to help veterans be successful in higher education and transition into civilian life.

U.S. Military veterans are invited to visit the Center to use the computers, study, meet other veterans, and connect with both on and off-campus services and resources. Community service providers will be available to assist veterans with transitioning to the civilian workforce, confidential counseling and recovery from brain injury.

VetCorps Veterans Resource Liaisons are available to assist with applying for VA benefits, connecting to the veteran community, volunteer service opportunities and community resources. Assistance with registration and using student support services is also available.
Center’s Winter quarter hours of operation are:
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am – 1:00 pm

Look for the following activities in February. All are sponsored by the Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success, unless stated otherwise.

TUTORING – FOR VETERANS BY VETERANS
Now offered daily 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Cascade 425
Variety of subjects

B.E.S.T. WORKSHOP: BRAIN INJURY PRIMER – A VIEW FROM THE INSIDE
Wed., Feb. 2nd 12:30 – 1:30 pm
Cascade 425
Workshop Summary: Brain Injury is the signature wound of the Iraq/Afghan wars. Brain Injury has its own language/vocabulary. Find out what these terms mean and more importantly, how they feel. What about support groups? Treatments? Where does PTSD fit? Hints on what works – All from the point of view of a brain injury survivor.
Presenter Info: Stephen Zagelow, JD, LL.M, is a veteran of the Vietnam unpleasantness, a brain injury survivor and a board member of the BEST – Brain Energy Support Team. BEST is the leading organization of individuals with brain injury and their caregivers. BEST provides peer-to-peer support, resources, and access to services for those with brain injury and their caregivers to jump beyond surviving brain injury.
http://www.brainenergysupportteam.org/index.html

VETERANS STUDENT SUCCESS WORKSHOP: DISCOVER YOUR LEARNING STYLE
Thur., Feb. 3rd 12:00 – 12:50 pm
Olympic 205
Presenter: Michael Mesa
Event sponsors: Fort Steilacoom Corps of Veterans Student Club and VetCorps

FORT STEILACOOM CORPS OF VETERANS – STUDENT CLUB
Mon., Feb. 7th 2:30 pm
For information contact Joe Jackson at jjackson0389@smail.pcd.edu or (253) 355-1836.
Sponsor: Student Programs

TBI WORKSHOP – (OPEN TO ALL)
Wed., Feb. 9th 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Cascade 332 – Lecture Hall
The WDVA, in partnership with the Washington Traumatic Brain Injury Strategic Partnership Advisory Council, has created a program that helps Veterans, family members, and community members survive, even thrive, after their service related injuries have impacted them. This one-hour presentation is for those who have either have deployed or know of someone who has deployed in the line of service. The workshop will cover 1) defining TBI; 2) service related exposures; 3) common signs and symptoms; and 4) what to do if you suspect that you have experienced a TBI.
Presenter info: Timm Lovitt is a U.S. Army veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq. He is the WA State Director of the Student Veterans of America (SVA) and a TBI Field Coordinator with the WDVA.
Event sponsor: VetCorps

4-YEAR UNIVERSITY INFO SESSION – KAPLAN UNIVERSITY
Feb. 16th 3:00 pm
Cascade 523
Pizza provided – RSVP required
Information for veterans and active duty military interested in transferring to a university. Details available soon.
http://military.kaplan.edu/?tid=11

BOOTS TO SHOES WORKSHOP: MILITARY TO CIVILIAN CAREER RESUME BUILDING
Thur., Feb, 24th 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Olympic 202
Workshop summary: What does your resume say about you? Does your military to civilian resume reflect your skills and accomplishments in the best light? Are you using the most appropriate resume format? What is the purpose of a resume, anyway? Attend this workshop to better understand the answers to these questions and more. Learn how to drill for skills and accomplishments you didn’t know you had, format your resume so it is easy to read by busy hiring professionals, and position you for the real purpose of the resume . . . to get an interview!!

Presenter info: Patricia Conover, Director of the Boots to Shoes Foundation, has years of experience in effectively communicating and translating skills across Industries and Professions. A skilled workshop leader, Patricia makes the chore of writing a resume an interesting self-exploration that further builds confidence for job seekers. Boots to Shoes Foundation provides Mentors, Mock Interviews, and Business Panel discussions to support 21st. Century Veterans in their capture 21st. Century Jobs.
http://www.bootstoshoes.org/

Jennifer Cooke
Retention and Transition Success Manager
Pierce College Fort Steilacoom
9401 Farwest Dr. SW
Lakewood, WA 98498-1999
(253) 964-6592
jcooke@pierce.ctc.edu

Now that students are ramping up their college and scholarship application efforts, we thought it was time to share an update with you on theWashBoard.org. In addition, we’ve included some helpful hints to pass along to the students you may work with.

As of January 4, 2011, there are over 200 active scholarships available on the site, which will result in over 13 million dollars in scholarship awards to Washington students.

GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

To assist your students in getting the best scholarship matches from theWashBoard.org, we developed these guidelines to help scholarship seekers as they create or update their profile. Please share these tips with your students:

Complete as much of your profile as possible. Your scholarship matches are based on the information that you enter in your profile. Also, keep your profile up to date, as changes you make may result in increased matches.

ABOUT ME tab — At the bottom of the page, you are asked if you identify with or have any of the personal attributes listed. There are specific scholarships attached to these categories. If they don’t apply to you, indicate N/A (not applicable). Remember, all of your profile answers are confidential and not shared.
In your profile, be sure to select all of the two and four-year institutions that you are considering. There are a number of scholarships for students who are committed to attend or are attending a specific school and if those schools are part of your profile, you will see those scholarships in your matches.

Financial Need tab — Don’t forget to indicate the type of support that you are looking for — tuition, room and board, transportation, etc.

Review your list of scholarship matches carefully. A scholarship may have a name that is misleading. Make sure you read all of the eligibility requirements for the scholarships in your list. For example, the United Negro College Fund can award scholarships to students who aren’t from an ethnic minority, but who do have financial need.

Not finding matches under “100% Matches”? Take a look at “All Matches”.

RESOURCES TO SHARE
You may only have one minute to share information with the Senior class, or just a moment at a local Financial Aid event. Attached are free tools for you to use, which make promoting theWashBoard.org even easier.

60 second commercial without audio

Slideshow presentation for Financial Aid nights

In addition, there is a Powerpoint with voice over to help you and your students build a great seeker profile. However, it’s too big to email! It’s titled SEEKER HOW TO.PPSX and you’ll find it in the RESOURCES section, along with other printable and downloadable materials.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need more information or wish to share a suggestion,

Jenny Crane
Customer Service Provider
888-535-0747 x8
admin@thewashboard.org

Mary Beth Lambert
Marketing & Communications Consultant
206-335-0191
mblcommunications@comcast.net