Lorretta Arrington, the GPC Dunwoody Military Student Advocate, who also will serve Alpharetta student veterans, speaks during a program announcing the Marcus Foundation grant. (photo by Bill Roa)
by Rebecca Rakoczy
Student veterans, active military and their families will be the beneficiaries of a three-year grant from the Marcus Foundation, helping them receive better assistance in achieving their educational goals.
The grant enables the college to employ three military student advocates – one on each of GPC’s Decatur, Dunwoody and Newton campuses, and also will provide 10 scholarships per semester for military veterans. It also will provide a Veterans Emergency fund for student veterans who encounter financial emergencies that could affect their ability to attend college.
Georgia Perimeter College serves more than 800 student veterans and their families.
“Teaming up with the Marcus Foundation, we will be able to do more for our military students and work to make a greater educational impact in their lives,” says Mark Eister, director of GPC’s Military Outreach Center programs.
Established in 2010 and funded through a grant from the University System of Georgia, GPC’s Military Outreach Center currently is housed on the Clarkston Campus. The grant will physically extend the center’s programs and assistance to all GPC campuses, Eister says.
“The Marcus Foundation grant will provide essential, one-on-one support for every veteran and military-related student at Georgia Perimeter College,” says Eister. “The Military Student Advocates on the Clarkston, Dunwoody, Decatur and Newton campuses will offer personalized advice and guidance to each and every student veteran, including our online military students.”
Lorretta Arrington, the GPC Dunwoody Military Student Advocate, will serve Dunwoody and Alpharetta student veterans in her role.
Eister noted that the new Veteran Emergency Fund for student veterans also will give financial assistance to active duty, Guard, Reserve, veteran or military dependents who face unanticipated financial challenges that could impact their ability to remain in college.
Check out this issue’s other articles about military and veteran students and GPC’s outreach services:
Easing the Transition for Military Students
Military Advocates Bring Understanding to Their Role
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