Grants allow for brand new Veteran Services area at ARCC
By Jordan Rowan
Staff Writer
The Veteran Services went under reconstruction and relocation this summer thanks to an $8,900 grant from Student Veterans of America and The Home Depot Foundation. The space is a complete departure from the previous location.
“It was difficult. It just wasn’t a very welcoming place. There was three cubicles, an old couch with a stain on it, a table that was broke. It wasn’t the best representation of what our services reflected,” said Jeff Pool, Veteran Services Academic Advisor at ARCC.
The new area is now at ARCC in room SC118 with all new furniture, a desk for students to work, and a full kitchenette.
“It’s their own space. It’s a place where the veterans can have to come and destress in between classes,” said Pool.
Prior to the move, the center was tucked away, underneath the library, and known to the student veterans as “The Bunker”.
“It was dark, yellow, and dingy. I didn’t even know that it existed” said Leo Cardenas, a student veteran attending ARCC this year.
With maintenance being so busy over the summer, that gave Pool, the students, and volunteer workers from Home Depot the chance to completely renovate the space for themselves.
“Between the students, me, and Home Depot, we did everything in that room from tear out old carpet to painting. It literally is our center,” said Pool.
