By Brooklynn Wong
Cypress College will soon have a new resource center to service its large demographic of students who are military veterans.
Last Friday, ground was broken on a new center that will be a new and improved version of the current Veterans Resource Center on campus.
Measure J, which was passed in 2014, will make this undertaking possible.
The bond measure is a 20-year construction program with the goal of improving facilities across the North Orange County Community College District.
$574 million will be provided over that time to build the Veterans Resource Center, renovate Cypress College’s Fine Arts Building and expand its library, among other projects.
According to Cypress College’s website, this new Veterans Resource Center will provide state-of-the-art counseling facilities for student veterans, a patio and outdoor area, and computers and access to other technology. Assistance will be provided for navigating the college process of financial aid, applications, career development and veterans benefit information.
The overall hope of staff is that this facility and the services and help offered within, will aid veterans in their transition from the military to civilian and student life, and create a sense of community amongst Cypress College’s veteran demographic.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held, where Cypress College President Dr. JoAnna Schilling, and local politicians including Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, addressed those in attendance.