Genesee Community College Receives $8,000 for Student Veterans

BATAVIA, NY (11/17/2016)(readMedia)-- Genesee Community College announced today that the College has received a grant in the amount of $8,000 from America's Warrior Partnership Community Integration, a non-profit organization whose purpose is to identify and support community-level agencies that provide holistic services to veterans. This grant has been awarded in response to a nomination by Veterans One-stop Center of WNY, Inc., with whom Genesee Community College will be collaborating to provide vital services to veterans that empower them to remain enrolled in school.

This funding will empower Genesee Community College to keep veterans enrolled in school while addressing unforeseen challenges and barriers they may encounter which cannot be addressed by other resources through providing financial assistance.

"Returning veterans are an important resource in our communities, and deserve the range of educational services that will help them pursue rewarding careers," said Richard Ensman, Jr., director of Development and External Affairs at Genesee Community College. "We are delighted to expand our outreach to veterans in partnership with Veterans One-stop Center, and to make scholarship and grant dollars available to our veterans community."

"Genesee Community College is a great community partner in Genesee and Wyoming counties when it comes to serving our veterans and military families," said Roger L. Woodworth, president & CEO of the Veterans One-stop Center of WNY. "We look forward to ensuring more veterans are able to complete their course of study at GCC and set themselves up for economic success."

The Veterans One-stop Center of WNY opened an office in Batavia in November 2015 to increase access for veterans in Genesee and Wyoming counties. Genesee Community College has over 120 post-9/11 Veterans enrolled in their courses.

Community Integration is a national award program administered by America's Warrior Partnership Community Integration. It is made possible by Wounded Warrior Project funding.

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About Genesee Community College

Genesee Community College is currently celebrating its 50th Anniversary while continuing a long history of prioritizing student success through personal attention in small classes, and extensive hands-on learning using innovative technology. The diverse population of approximately 6,500 students is split between part- and full-time enrollment, with approximately 40 percent of GCC students being 24 years of age or older. Together, all students enjoy flexible, high-quality instruction at seven campus locations in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming Counties. In addition, student from around the world engage in GCC's robust online learning program featuring 15 online degrees and more than 100 online courses offered each semester.

With more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs, many students begin their academic career at GCC and seamlessly transfer their credits toward a bachelor's or higher degree at another college or university. GCC was founded in 1966 as part of the State University of New York (SUNY), has been continuously accredited by the Middle States Commission of Colleges and Schools, and is known throughout the country for its teaching innovations and technological proficiencies. In 2017, GCC looks forward to opening two new facilities at the Batavia Campus. The Student Success Center and the Richard C. Call Arena will ensure the College's continued success for the next 50 years.

About Veterans One-stop Center of WNY

WE. EMPOWER. VETERANS. TM

The Veterans One-stop Center of WNY ("Veterans One-stop Center"), a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, is the Western New York region's premier veterans service and advocacy not-for-profit collaborative agency empowering veterans, veteran families, and service members in achieving economic success, housing stability, and emotional health and well-being in support of their transition to civilian life.

Using a collective impact model, Veterans One-stop Center of WNY, Inc., serves as a community impact agency for veterans, providing the veterans community with focused leadership, common purpose and agenda, a common operating picture and a communications framework. In addition, they provide a support network and infrastructure, shared measurements and data aggregation, collective action and mutually supporting activities. Collaborative funding opportunities through innovative and collaborative public and private partnerships result in a force multiplying, integrated continuum of empowerment.

Veterans One-stop Center of WNY, Inc. provides tangible local operational access and awareness, domain knowledge, and effective scale to meaningfully impact Western New York's veterans, veteran families and service members. We operate within a construct of services provided by existing, independent service providers working together in a coordinated system to provide seamless empowerment.

About America's Warrior Partnership Community Integration

The America's Warrior Partnership began in Augusta, Georgia and provides assistance to local warriors (veterans and service members) of all service branches, regardless of era of service or wounded status. Services are provided through collaborations on the community level. In 2013, through a funding collaboration with Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), America's Warrior Partnership Community Integration was formed to help other communities form similar organizations that will support the veterans in their local communities. Each local community remains autonomous as the lead with mentoring and assistance provided by America's Warrior Partnership Community Integration. Funding is made possible by WWP.

For more information, contact Alex Lauer, Director of Engagement & Development, at 716-697-3797 or alauer@vocwny.org.

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