Tallahassee Community College renamed their Veteran Success Center in honor of TCC trustee Karen B. Moore and her husband retired veteran Richard Moore.
The Moore’s have a distinct connection with veterans and understand their needs. Both Richard and Karen Moore come from deeply rooted military families.
“Service to our country in the military runs deep in both sides of our family. Karen’s father was a navy veteran … my brother in-law, his father, and all four of his brothers were in combat in Korea. My father and all four of his brothers were combat fighters in World War II … in fact my father was the navigator on the ‘Fleet 29’ that delivered the surrender papers back from Japan at the end of the war,” Richard said.
The VSC is a center where veterans can fraternize with one another while completing their work in an inviting quiet environment.
The center offers free faculty tutoring and academic advising, equipped with a full staff specifically for the center, computers, and a memorial wall showcasing staff members and students that have served in the force.
TCC student-verteran Roy Burton said the VSC is important to students like him.
“It’s important for us veterans to have a quiet place we can go and be around others who understand us and are just like me,” Burton said.
The $10k contribution from the Moore’s will also go toward the TCC Moore Veterans Leadership Academy, which will provide scholarships to deserving students. TCC plans to open the leadership academy in Fall 2016.
The MVLA is a two-semester program that will allow student veterans to interact with TCC as well as the Tallahassee community. After students successfully complete the program they’re awarded with a scholarship in recognition of their participation.
TCC is ranked among the nation’s top 20 percent of colleges and universities for veterans. TCC was also recognized as a military-friendly college by Military Advanced Education’s magazine.
Burton gave his remarks during the naming ceremony. He expressed his struggles of blending back into civilian life and how adjusting wasn’t easy for him. He shared his gratitude for the center and the Moore’s generous contribution.
During the 2014-2015 school year, roughly 750 veterans were enrolled in credit courses at TCC. They have more veteran students than both Florida State University and Florida A&M University.
Executive director of the TCC Foundation Heather Mitchell said a lot of veterans benefit from the VSC.
“So many veterans in this community will benefit from this new leadership program and the additional resources the Center will offer,” Mitchell said.