Veterans' Portico Dedicated at Penn College

Pennsylvania College of Technology has formally dedicated a Veterans' Portico on the main campus, honoring students, alumni, faculty, staff and retirees of the institution who have served in the nation's armed forces.

At the Veterans Day ceremony, held near the Veterans' Fountain in front of the Breuder Advanced Technology and Health Sciences Center, Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour unveiled signage commemorating the site.

Noting the institution and its forerunners have welcomed veterans for nearly a century, Gilmour praised their service and sacrifice and pledged to continue offering opportunities for them to learn, teach and work at Penn College and transition to civilian life.

"Like all the generations before them, these men and women find a home on our campus," Gilmour said. "They find a place where they can grow into new civilian roles, where they can gain the skills they need to re-enter the workforce with confidence and pride. Our commitment to them will never waver. We will honor the sacrifices they have made to preserve and protect our lives and our freedom."

In September, for the third consecutive year, Penn College was designated a "Military Friendly School" by G.I. Jobs, a magazine for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. The 2012 Military Friendly Schools list honors the "top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America's military service members and veterans as students."

For Fall 2011, Penn College's student body includes 328 veteran students who are receiving educational benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

In May, the college began a tradition of recognizing graduates who have served in the military by providing them with red-white-and-blue cords as part of their commencement-day regalia. The ceremonies included 26 veterans eligible for graduation.

Among the 330 veteran students enrolled in May were 101 who had earned prestigious medals for their military service. They included three recipients of the Purple Heart, five Bronze Star recipients, 76 who earned the Iraq Service Medal, and 17 who earned the Afghanistan Service Medal.

"I cannot begin to describe the pride that swept over the theater as I shared this information during our commencement ceremonies," Gilmour said.

She added that the portico, adjacent to the Veterans' Fountain, "will provide a year-round symbol of our commitment to our veteran students, alumni, faculty, staff and retirees even when the fountain closes for winter."

To learn more about the benefits and resources offered to student veterans at Penn College, visit online .

For more about the college, visit on the Web , email or call toll-free 800-367-9222.