Northwest Florida State College Receives $150,000 Gift from Gulf Power Foundation for Veterans Success Center
November 16, 2018
NICEVILLE, FL – Gulf Power Foundation has pledged $150,000 to assist in the establishment of a Veterans Success Center at Northwest Florida State College. The gift will enhance the operational capacity of the Center which serves to expand employment, educational opportunities and transition services to veterans, active duty and guard service members, reservists and military dependents. The Veterans Success Center is scheduled to open in spring 2019, located within the Learning Resources Center at Northwest Florida State College’s Niceville campus.
“Donors like the Gulf Power Foundation are one of the primary reasons we can provide impactful resources to our students, specifically our veterans,” said Dr. Devin Stephenson, President of Northwest Florida State College. “We greatly thank them for their investment that will directly benefit those who have served our country.”
The Veterans Success Center will provide a one-stop shop for service programs and educational and transitional learning for veterans and their families. The center will offer a tranquil, professional and respectful location, including state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology, where veterans can study or pursue other scholastic assignments. Additionally, the center will create a cooperative community for veterans and provide resources for leadership, support, advisement and campus engagement.
The Veterans Success Center will include academic advisement support; the establishment and operation of service dog training center for combat wounded veterans; online educational opportunities; job placement services; transcript evaluation; VA certification; tuition processing for remote assignment; military internships/apprenticeships; specialized services for handicapped wounded warriors; and needed administrative support. The Veterans Success Center will work with individuals to remove barriers to employment, increase educational attainment and provide a sense of community for those who have served in the armed forces and their families.
“The Veterans Success Center will be an essential resource to veterans and their families throughout our communities,” said Wendell Smith, Chairman, Gulf Power Foundation Board and Vice President of Customer Service & Sales. “These men and women have truly sacrificed it all. It’s our turn to take care of them.”
Gulf Power Foundation provided a $30,000 gift, the first installment of a pledge totaling $150,000.
Pictured (L to R): Cole Allen, NWF Chief Information Officer; Nate Slaton, NWF VP of Student Success; Jack Capra, NWF General Counsel and his service dog Rocco; Juliet Milam, Gulf Power Local Manager; Bernard Johnson, Gulf Power Central District Manager; Devin Stephenson, NWF President; Wendell Smith, Chairman, Gulf Power Foundation Board and Vice President of Customer Service & Sales; Jennifer Allen McFarren, Executive Director of the Gulf Power Foundation; Cristie Kedroski, NWF VP of College Advancement; Pauline Anderson, NWF Dean of Instititional Research; Laura Coale, NWF Executive Director of Strategic Communications