Newly Opened Office At TCC Chesapeake Campus Serves Veterans

CHESAPEAKE 

Tidewater Community College recently opened a new office that aims to provide centralized services to veterans.

Located on its campus in Chesapeake, which is home to more than 27,000 veterans, the new office will complement the existing 23 benefit offices offered by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services across the Commonwealth.  TCC’s new benefits office opened June 11 and houses two staff members this year, with an additional staffer joining the office next year.

“TCC is honored and proud to continue serving veterans on our campuses,”  President Edna V. Baehre-Kolovani said at a recent ceremony on a bright, sunny day that matched the spirits of elected officials, state representatives, veterans, active duty military, community leaders and friends of TCC who attended.

“And the terrific turn out for this occasion shows the importance of this new office, which will provide much-needed services to veterans and their families,” Baehre-Kolovani said.

Chesapeake Mayor Alan P. Krasnoff said at the recent ceremony, “For the thousands of veterans who call Chesapeake home – not to mention those currently serving who one day will join their cadre – this is a very big deal.”

Meanwhile, Virginia’s Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs John C. Harvey, Jr. thanked the community for coming together and finding common ground in serving veterans and active duty military. “TCC is a flagship for how community colleges can give veterans the key to future success, after years of service,” he said.

The center took shape as the Virginia Department of Veterans Services reached out to the City of Chesapeake in search of new office space for their growing needs. The city saw an opportunity to partner with TCC, according to a news release. The college agreed to provide rent-free space for a new benefits office to provide centralized services to veterans seeking help with benefits earned from their service.  

More than 13,000 TCC students have ties to the military. TCC has its own Center for Military and Veterans Education with offices on each campus and local bases.