Pace To Build Student Veterans Center In Pleasantville

PLEASANTVILLE, NY — Pace University will build a Student Veterans Center on its Pleasantville campus. The center will serve as a one-stop resource center for student veterans at Pace, which has hundreds of student veterans and dependents across its campuses, including 60 in Westchester.

The SVC will offer a central location on campus to connect, socialize and use the school's resources. For example, veterans will be able to obtain information on how to work with, and navigate, the VA, as well as the various educational benefits student veterans are entitled to including the Forever GI Bill, Post 9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program and Vocational Rehab.

Alun R. Gilpin, a U.S. Navy veteran from Palm Beach, Florida who has been stationed in Thailand, Japan, and in Maryland, Virginia and California, welcomed the addition of the veteran’s center.

“So many of us who have served in the military appreciate having like-minded people to connect with,” said Gilpin, a junior at Pace University who is studying Arts and Entertainment Management. “Very often we are older and have different experiences and needs than traditional students. This Student Veterans Center will serve as a safe zone for us to build community, have important conversations, and succeed here at Pace, and after we graduate.”

Construction on the new Student Veterans Center will begin this winter with an expected completion in spring 2020.

State Sen. Peter Harckham announced a $200,000 grant to help get the center up and running. “The funding I’ve secured for Pace University will give these courageous young men and women their own gathering place on campus, where they can obtain the benefit information they need, to help them complete their studies and, network with friends and other vets.”

Pace already has an Office of Veterans Services dedicated to helping students with their veteran and educational benefits. Its director, COL (Ret) Peter Riley, said, “Veterans have unique needs, backgrounds and contributions that they bring to campus. It’s important that they have a place to congregate, socialize and share their stories, challenges and experiences. This Student Veterans Center on Pace University’s Pleasantville campus will provide them with just that – a safe and welcoming place that they need and deserve.”

The new SVC will be inside the Kessel Student Center.

“Pace has a proud tradition of supporting veterans and their family members,” said Marvin Krislov, President, Pace University. “Thanks to Senator Harckham, we will have our first space in Westchester dedicated exclusively to meeting their needs. From our Career Services team, who are trained on how to translate military service into resumes for the job market, to our introduction to university life dedicated to veterans, at Pace we know that when you have served our country, we have to go above and beyond to serve you.”