By Edmond Ortiz
Northeast Lakeview College now has a standalone facility devoted to serving military veterans and military-connected students.
What you should know
Officials with NLC and Alamo Colleges District and community leaders gathered at the Northeast Side campus on Nov. 11, Veterans’ Day, to celebrate the soft opening of the Nighthawk Legacy Center.
According to a press release, the 11,000 square-foot building will provide dedicated services designed to support veterans and military-connected students, including concentrated advising, details about military education benefits, and aid with transitioning from military to civilian life. NLC officials said the new center will also re-establish a veteran mentoring program, which will match incoming veterans with current students to enhance the former’s transition process from military life to an academic environment.
Additionally, the facility will feature a dedicated space to host organizations and other events that support veterans, including faculty support in the classroom, military culture, and learning styles.
ACD is using some funds appropriated by the state to build and finish out the Nighthawk Legacy Center.
What they are saying
Campus and district officials said the new facility will help to advance local veterans’ academic pursuits. Alamo Colleges has more than 5,700 military-connected students enrolled districtwide.
Situated between Live Oak and Universal City, Northeast Lakeview serves a suburban area where Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph is a major employer, and where many military veterans of different service branches reside.
“We are excited to be one step closer to giving our Veteran students and their family members a space they can call their own,” NLC President Veronica Garcia said in a statement. “This center is a direct response to the veteran student population growth we have seen, with about 11% of students enrolled at NLC using veteran benefits last year.”
