PCC’s Veterans Resource Center Mark 10 Years of Service

PCC’s Veterans Resource Center Marks 10 Years of Service

PASADENA, Oct. 9, 2020—Alumni, students, faculty, and staff at Pasadena City College’s Veterans Resource Center (VRC) will mark a decade of service this weekend as they reflect on 10 years of accomplishments.

The VRC has distinguished itself as a resource for student veterans making their transition from the armed forces to civilian life.

From its beginnings in a small room tucked away on campus, PCC’s VRC has grown to encompass a 1,800 square-foot facility that offers coaching, tutoring, academic and vocational counseling, certification of GI Bill benefits, and a space with a computer lab, study areas, and places for some good old-fashioned R-and-R. Along the way, it has earned its place as one of the most celebrated service centers for veterans in the country.

PCC has been consistently been recognized as one of the top 10 schools for veterans in the U.S. — and one of the top five in California — in Military Times’ annual ranking of two-year colleges.

“Student veterans have always been a vital part of the PCC community,” said Dr. Erika Endrijonas, superintendent/president of Pasadena City College. “They have consistently impressed us with the dedication, ingenuity, and strong character they demonstrate for their fellow students and the faculty. We are proud to do whatever we can to help them in their educational journey, and I know everyone at the college is profoundly grateful for their service to our country.”

Each year, between 600 and 1,200 student veterans utilize the VRC to help them advance their academic and social lives. Student veterans also enroll in a “Boots to Books” class, long taught by instructor Doc Martin, that lets them practice the soft skills they need to navigate the civilian world after their service. The services are centered around a case management module, building on a holistic approach to encourage academic success.

Over the course of the year, student veterans take team-building excursions to such places as Idyllwild and Mt. Baldy, conducting team-building exercises and deepening their connections to their fellow students. Further examples of these trips were on display in a student-produced video that was posted last year.

In 2019, the college graduated its largest class of student veterans, issuing degrees and certificates to 117 students.

The VRC got its start Oct. 10, 2010, with a ceremonial opening that included former Sen. Barbara Boxer, the late Sen. Daniel Inouye, former Sen. Jim Webb, U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu, Veterans of Foreign Wars Chairman Bill Maynes, and the offices of Rep. Judy Chu and state Sen. Anthony Portantino. The center was championed on campus by Patricia D’Orange Martin, a counselor who retired last year after decades of service to PCC’s student veterans, and Dr. Cynthia Olivo, who currently serves as the college’s vice president of student services. The center is led by Carol Calandra.

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Since 1924, Pasadena City College has provided the San Gabriel Valley with a high-quality, innovative learning environment that inspires student success. Our academic programs encompass a variety of degrees, transfer programs, certificates of achievement, and occupational skills certificates that challenge students and support progress toward their goals. Widely recognized as a transfer leader, PCC is consistently one of California¹s top schools for transfers to local universities, including the CSU and UC system, APU, USC, Art Center College of Design, Caltech, and more.