To show appreciation for donors, faculty and staff members to who have shown unusual support for veterans’ academic success, student veterans hosted a luncheon in the Campus Center on Nov. 10, the day before Veterans Day.The contributors were acknowledged for their assistance in the construction of and resources for the new Veterans Resource Center (VRC), as well as everyday contributions such as time and special attention to veteran students’ needs.
Anthropology Professor Lauren Arenson was one of the guests honored.
“It was a really heartfelt,” Arenson said about the presentation in which she was awarded her certificate of appreciation.
According to veterans’ Adviser Patty D’Orange-Martin, Arenson has gone out of her way to inform herself about veterans’ needs.
Arenson said she had many veterans take her classes and the Social Sciences division as a whole has made lab time available to veterans, as well.
Carlos “Tito” Altamirano received a certificate for assisting veterans with the Teaching and Learning Center’s Math Path program.
An Iraq war veteran, Altamirano is heavily involved in the math program and he refers to himself as a “good tie-in” for student veterans.
“Since I know what they’re going through, vets come to me,” said Altamirano. “I share my experiences with them and tell them how to navigate the political structure at PCC,” he said.
Altamirano also screens new math tutors to confirm they are “veteran-friendly.”
Other appreciation certificate recipients included Interim VP of Administrative Services Richard van Pelt, and Cynthia Olivo, associate dean of counseling.
According to veterans and their advisers, van Pelt and Olivo were key players in confirming the location and completion of the VRC.
Also recognized were veterans’ advisers Patty D’Orange-Martin, Harold “Doc” Martin and Carol Calandra for their contributions to the veterans.
Veterans thanked for D’Orange-Martin, Martin and Calandra for their contributions of time, support and commitment to growing the Veterans’ Services department from a roughly 4-feet-by-8-feet office to the spacious center that exists today.
Veterans’ Club President Magdalena Sanchez and fellow student veterans Stephen Soto and Hrair Petrosyan presented the appreciation certificates to the more than 10 recipients that attended the event.
The Veterans Resource Center, located in the W Building, has served the academic and resource needs of dozens of new and existing 20- to 60-year-old student veterans since its grand opening at the beginning of the fall semester.
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