Georgia Perimeter College Newsroom

Army Reservist Sergeant Chris Tucker takes classes at GPC's Dunwoody Campus.

GPC to celebrate student veterans during Veterans Day tribute

by Rebecca Rakoczy

Like many students at Georgia Perimeter College, Chris Tucker juggles a job and classes. His goal is to become a certified personal trainer.

While his evenings are spent in classes at Dunwoody Campus, the Army Reservist and sergeant spends his days helping veterans find employment and transitional housing in his job as a peer navigator for Catholic Charities, a nonprofit organization.

As a veteran who served in both Iraq and Kuwait, Tucker knows personally the challenges veterans face returning to the civilian world. “The biggest thing is just to be able to listen to them,” he says.

On Tuesday, Nov. 11, GPC will honor Tucker—and all veterans who have served the nation—during a special Veterans Day tribute at 11 a.m.

The program will take place in front of A building on the GPC Clarkston Campus. Six hundred fifty flags will be planted in honor of the 650 student veterans currently enrolled at GPC. The event is being sponsored by the Student Veterans Association.

The Clarkston High School JROTC Color guard will present the colors and provide a musical accompaniment. Rose Gibbs, Student Veterans Association president; Mark Eister, GPC director of Military Outreach; and Rob Watts, GPC interim president, will give remarks. 

Seating will begin at 10:30 a.m., and the ceremony will begin promptly at 11 a.m. A reception will follow in the CN student center building. All veterans in the community are invited. For information, contact Loretta Arrington at Loretta.arrington@gpc.edu