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Dallas College holds resource fair on Veterans Day
On this Veterans Day, Dallas College showcased the many ways it works with student veterans at its resource fair.
DUNCANVILLE, Texas - On this Veterans Day, Dallas College showcased the many ways it works with student veterans at its resource fair.
Deja Featherston attended and was looking to turn over a new leaf after four years in the Navy.
"I’m also trying to get connected with college," she said. "The transition coming back to your home state home of record, it can be a little difficult, a little tricky at first."
Thursday’s Veterans Resource Fair was hosted by Dallas College in Duncanville.
"A lot of times vets are like first time students. They enter their community college, they understand they have benefits, but they quite don’t know how they work with each other," said Dr. Shirley Higgs, Dallas College. "So what we do is make sure we get that vet enrolled and then we hand off to student services."
There’s also support to help with life after military service.
"Wraparound services, such as counseling and of course to help those mental health issues," said Dr. Dina Sosa-Hegarty.
And if necessary, the college can assist with basic needs.
"We support our students through our food pantries, through our clothing boutiques. We have funds that are for emergency care, so if veterans are in need, if Dr. Higgs’ area is unable to support them through a benefit or if they need a little extra, we are there," Sosa-Hegarty said.
FOX Corp., which includes FOX 4, joined forces with U.S.VETS’ initiative to end veteran homelessness and lift respect for vets.
"We are trying to reunite the nation around Veterans Day and reminding people to honor our vets," said Erik Miller, the non-profit’s executive director.
Dallas College hired Army vet Martell Williams from Nashville two weeks ago to help vets connect with services at the campuses.
"It's that cohesiveness, it’s that camaraderie that a lot of them miss when they leave out the service so we're here if they want to talk about anything we're here and plus we're a veteran. Their trust level goes up to the, you know, the highest level because we are a veteran," Williams said.
Twenty-two-year U.S. Marine vet Timothy Davis called the resource fair a great help.
"It’s always needed because a lot of veterans sometimes, we are, I think we're too shy to ask for help. When they have things like this, then people can get out, they can walk around and see what’s available to them," Davis said.
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