Caribbean Life, Nov. 27-Dec. 3, 2020 17
LET US BE YOUR
"DESIGNATED
REPRESENTATIVE "
AND
HAVE THE RESPONSIBLE INSURANCE
COMPANY PAY TO REPAIR YOUR CAR TO
FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS AND 'DELIVER
IT TO YOU WITH THAT NEW CAR
SHOWROOM LOOK WHILE DRIVING AN
IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT CAR RENTAL
A short drive thru the Battery Tunnel from Manhattan
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Hundreds of men and women
who retire from the U.S. Armed
Forces decide to seek higher education
degrees at CUNY community
colleges. They should be
commended because the transition
from military life back to civilian
life and school isn’t always
easy and can present challenges
in the areas of time management,
technology and socialization
with classmates. Many
veteran-students are older than
their classmates, and are juggling
full-time work and raising
a family in addition to schoolwork.
But, with the help of their
professors, staff and numerous
college resources available to
help, many student-veterans
are feeling welcomed, staying
in school and graduating. In
September, Kingsborough Community
College (KCC) had an
enrollment of 165 VA-coded students,
which include active military
members, retired veterans,
veteran dependent spouses and
survivors. This month, I share
with you profiles of two of our
student veterans.
Barbara Thomas-Timoll is
an army veteran who served 33
years in the military which included
a two-year tour in Kuwait.
After this service to her country,
and her family (her children
are now mostly grown), she decided
to start checking items off
her bucket list. One of the first
things she always wanted to do
was to earn a college degree. So,
at 57 years old, this Brownsville,
Brooklyn resident, who also has
a disability, began classes at
KCC. Reflecting on where she is
now, and thinking about her impeding
graduation in June, she
shared “there’s always going to
be trials and tribulations, but if
I can do it, anyone can do it.”
After serving for over 6
years in the Army, Adrian Alfred
decided that it was better to
be a veteran with an education.
In September, he transferred
to KCC. Now, this 34-year-old
criminal justice major also juggles
a full-time job, working 8 to
10 hours on the midnight shift.
Like most colleges, KCC’s Office
of Military and Veterans Affairs
(MAVA) was there for Barbara
and Adrian and is there
to help all veteran students get
started and be successful. It
provides priority course registration,
certify and assist with
applying for Veteran Affairs
education benefits, and conduct
helpful workshops, such as time
management, tips for academic
success, internships, meditation
and more.
Our student-veterans are
also eligible to take part in special
programs, such as the Accelerated
Studies in Associate
Programs (ASAP), College Discovery
and KCC Flex program.
MAVA also connects them to
resources within and outside
of KCC, including tutorial services,
accessibility services, and
personal counseling. KCC also
has an armed forces studentveterans
club for active military
members, reservists, retired
veterans and their spouses, dependents
and supporters of veterans.
The club usually meets on
campus but, due to the coronavirus
pandemic, meetings take
place five days a week through
Zoom and a virtual lounge.
At Kingsborough, we are
happy to serve those who have
selflessly served our country.
And as the daughter of a military
veteran, I am especially
honored to support the success
of the brave men and women of
our armed forces.
Dr. Claudia V.
Schrader is president of
Kingsborough Community
College (KCC), a 72-acre
academic oasis located in
beautiful Manhattan Beach,
Brooklyn. Information
on the Office of Military
and Veterans Affairs and
Veterans Day 2020 videos
by student-veterans can be
found at https://www.kbcc.
cuny.edu/veteranaffairs/
veterans_day.html.
EDUCAT I O N PROFI LE
Serving Those Who Served Us All
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/www.kbcc
/www.kbcc
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