Berkeley College Office of Military and Veterans Affairs Expands Resource Center for Student-Veterans

30 October 2019



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2019	Contact: Ilene Greenfield Director of Media Relations 973-278-5400, Ext. 1-5122 IGL@BerkeleyCollege.edu

*BERKELEY COLLEGE OFFICE OF MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS EXPANDS RESOURCE CENTER FOR STUDENT-VETERANS, INTRODUCES SPARTAN STUDENT-VETERANS OF AMERICA CHAPTER, AND WELCOMES COMMUNITY PARTNERS*
Photo Caption: (Left) Berkeley College student-veteran Shanay Webb of Bridgeport, CT, Vice President, recognizes fellow officers in the Spartan Student Veterans of America Chapter and Berkeley College Student Veterans Club (starting from behind her, left to right): William Porter of Brooklyn, NY, President; Xavier Rivera of the Bronx, NY, Secretary; Byron Mendez of Ozone Park in Queens, NY, Treasurer; Osvaldo Pena of Brooklyn, NY, IT/Media; Givin Grant of Brooklyn, NY, Acting Treasure and Secretary, and Gabrielle Peralta of Newark, NJ, Director of the SVA Chapter in Woodland Park, NJ, before the symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony that opened the expanded Veterans Resource Center for student-veterans and the community. Berkeley’s Veterans Resource Centers offer a comfortable, supportive environment where students can meet with associates from the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs, get information about VA educational benefits, vocational rehabilitation and employment information, peer-to-peer support, study in a quiet setting and learn about a wide range of veterans’ benefits and issues. (Right) Community representatives, Berkeley College leaders and students cut the ribbon to open the new Berkeley College Veterans Resource Center at the campus in New York City on October 23, 2019. @BerkeleyCollege @studentvets @nycveterans @bmcc_cuny @childcenterNY @SUS_org @VOAgny @wings4warriors @LIFTcommunities @BergenCountyNJ @VFWHQ @RevMiranda The Berkeley College Office of Military and Veterans Affairs (OMVA) celebrated the expansion of the Veterans Resource Center, introduced the Spartan Student Veterans of America (SVA) National Chapter and welcomed community partners at Berkeley College in New York City on October 23, 2019. Prior to the ceremony student-veterans had the opportunity to meet and network with a number of New York City-based agencies that provide services and resources to veterans. “The expansion of our Veterans Resource Center in New York City opens up the opportunities for Berkeley student-veterans to meet with representatives from other veteran-supporting organizations such as those we have on campus today,” Ed Dennis, Associate Vice President, Berkeley College Office of Military and Veterans Affairs, said. Berkeley’s Veterans Resource Centers offer a comfortable, supportive environment where students can meet with associates from the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs, get information about Veterans Affairs educational benefits, vocational rehabilitation and employment information, peer-to-peer support, study in a quiet setting and learn about a wide range of veteran resources and referral services. Speakers at the event included keynote speaker, veteran Wilfred Cotto, Manager, Veterans Resource Center, Borough of Manhattan Community College, who spoke about the importance of Veterans Resource Centers on campus. “Having this level of commitment to student-veterans makes such a difference,” Mr. Cotto said. Guest speakers, veteran Joseph Bello, New York City Veterans Director, and service member Martine Nivose, Engagement and Community Services Coordinator, New York City Department of Veterans Services, echoed this message and their office’s commitment to assisting all veterans in New York City. Berkeley College also welcomed veteran Kevin Jenkins, SVA Program Manager, Chapter Support and Programs, from Washington, D.C., who praised Berkeley College, shared his enthusiasm about having this newly established Chapter in such a supportive and thriving metropolis, and pledged his organization’s support. The agencies that partnered with the Berkeley College community at the event included: the Child Center of New York, New York Presbyterian Military Wellness, New York Chamber of Commerce, Brooklyn Vet Center, Harlem Vet Center, SUS Service for the Underserved, Volunteers of America, New York City Mayor’s Office Department of Veteran Services, Wings for Warriors, LIFT, Bergen County Division of Veteran Services, Veterans of Foreign Wars, New York State Chaplains Task Force, and Lebron Fitness Army Fitness. About Berkeley College Berkeley College is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College has campuses in Midtown Manhattan and White Plains, NY, as well as in Newark, Paramus, Woodbridge and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 5,700 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, for six consecutive years. The website address is www.BerkeleyCollege.edu. The mission of Berkeley College is to empower students to achieve lifelong success in dynamic careers. -End- To view the above photos as high-resolution images, go to: Left: https://berkeleycollege.edu/newsroom/images/NYC_StudentVeteransRecogCR_102319.jpg Right: https://berkeleycollege.edu/newsroom/images/NYC_OMVA_CU_Ribboncutting_102319.jpg