Servicemen Helping Fellow Students With Veterans Information

Published 03.13.2012

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Student News

Veterans Affairs Work-Study students, who assistant their classmates with military benefits through Pennsylvania College of Technology's Financial Aid Office, are (from left) Jason M. Beaver, Army National Guard%3B Douglas L. Weber, U.S. Navy%2FNaval Reserves%3B and Chester M. Beaver, U.S. Army (retired).Repeatedly acknowledged for its support of America's active and veteran military personnel, Pennsylvania College of Technology continues to provide employment for students who have served their country in the armed forces.

The staff of the Financial Aid Office at Penn College has three servicemen employed under the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Work-Study Program: Jason M. Beaver, a civil engineering technology major from Sidman, Army National Guard; Douglas L. Weber, of Linesville, enrolled in electronics and computer engineering technology, U.S. Navy/Naval Reserves; and Chester M. Beaver, U.S. Army (retired), a general studies student from Williamsport.

Their responsibilities include assisting Joann Kay, the college's coordinator of veterans affairs, as she helps qualified students obtain education benefits, financial aid and additional veterans benefits.

To be eligible for the Veterans Affairs Work-Study position, a student must be receiving Veterans Affairs education benefits and be enrolled at least three-quarter time (nine credits per semester) at Penn College. The Work-Study experience is built around the students' class schedules; openings are posted as soon as they occur and are approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Employment of veterans is just one way in which Penn College encourages those members of its campus family.

The institution has been named by the publication "G.I. Jobs" to its list of Military Friendly Schools for the past three years. The designation is reserved for the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that do the most to "embrace America's veterans as students."

The college also has hosted information sessions for its student veterans, those returning from deployment, veterans' families and the general public, addressing such topics as education planning, veterans education benefits and employment opportunities.

Penn College has a tradition of providing graduates who have served in the military with red-white-and-blue cords as part of their commencement-day regalia; those veterans regularly are asked by college President Davie Jane Gilmour to rise for recognition during graduation ceremonies in the Community Arts Center.

Among other signs of institutional support is the Veterans' Portico outside the Breuder Advanced Technology and Health Sciences Center, a year-round symbol of the college's commitment to its veteran students, alumni, faculty, staff and retirees.

For more information about the Financial Aid Office's assistance to veterans, visit on the Web or call 570-327-4766.

For more about Penn College, visit online , email or call toll-free 800-367-9222.