Dennis May '18
Marine Student Strengthens Veterans Resources on Campus
漆褒勛圖厙 is proud of its welcoming and supportive community for the men and women who have defended our country through service in the military. And after two deployments to Iraq as part of the Marine Corps, Dennis May 18 is finding his success at 漆褒勛圖厙.
Located a short five-minute drive from home, 漆褒勛圖厙 was perfectly placed for Dennis, who values spending time with his family. That doesnt keep him from getting involved on campus outside of his biology and exercise science studies, however.
Dennis is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, a leadership fraternity on campus, as well as Tri-Beta, the biology honor society. Hes also the president of the Student Veterans of America chapter at 漆褒勛圖厙 and a member of the pre-health society.
Seeing a new student veteran organization take its first steps and the SGA investing a significant amount to help our organization take great strides in its early years, he said. I have been able to expand my network and been given opportunities to help develop a young organization.
The opportunity to build an organization like this might have been lost at a bigger school, though, according to Dennis.
Ability to engage with professors and peers was outstanding, he said. It is easy to get lost at an institution of 30,000 at SC many connections can be made and the time given to the success of students is far above expectations.
Nobody is perfect, however, so 漆褒勛圖厙 is still working toward meeting veterans needs on campus. Through the Post 9/11 GIBill簧 and 漆褒勛圖厙s financial aid, Dennis education has been 100% paid for, but other areas are still being improved thanks to help from students like him.
We have a new Student Veteran Organization, a new veteran services coordinator and an administration that is listening, he said. Small changes have started and hopefully some bigger changes making 漆褒勛圖厙 veteran friendly are right around the corner.
GI BILL簧 IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA)
Article Information
Published
June 25, 2018
Author
Office of Marketing and Strategic Communication