SUMTER, S.C. — Central Carolina Technical College has earned a distinction as a 'military-friendly' school. The Sumter campus serves all types of students, including former and current members of the military.
"It's huge and we feel so proud," CCTC's Director of Student Support Services Patty Magyar says about the distinction. "It means we take our relationship with our military personnel very seriously. We provide a variety of services for them. They feel welcomed here on campus. We have military folks that are our staff and teachers. So there's that kind of camaraderie that is created, that kind of community that is created and sustained."
CCTC is one of 250 schools across the U.S. to have received the gold level distinction, based on its ability to meet retention, graduation, job placement, repayment and loan default rates for veterans.
"We have some Vietnam-era veterans that are involved in our programs here at school, and then we have folks that are just separating from the military now."
Students like business management major Anthony Voss.
"I decided I wanted to try to do something a little bit different because I'm trying to open a business for a while so I would try to figure out some way to get some more further education," Voss explains. "And maybe that might help with some financial assistance on the way.
He’s now in his second year at CCTC, working alongside other students with military connections.
"You know we kind of get along and have a little special bond because of what we may have been through," Voss describes. "Since we shared the bond of being in the service together. You feel a little bit more comfortable admitting that ‘Aye, I might need a little help."
That community is strengthened through initiatives like the Veterans Resource Center (VRC), where military members, veterans and their families can relax, study and receive guidance.
"I think oftentimes in the military, there's very specific clear directions, you know, ‘Do this at this time.’ Well, now it's sort of up to them," Magyar explains. "And maybe their military career doesn't transfer into civilian life and so they have to pivot and change direction and find something new and being exposed to so many different things here at a college, it helps kind of open their eyes to the possibilities beyond military life."
The school also offers the Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) federal grant to help connect veterans with post-secondary educational opportunities, even outside of CCTC.
"There are only 65 veterans upward bound programs in the whole united states," Magyar shares. "And there is one in South Carolina and that's us. So we're we feel so proud to have these services for our neighbors basically."
While Voss says he was nervous to jump back into school at first, he's found a community at his school.
"Between the VRC and my classmates and other people on campus, made me feel welcome, comfortable and it doesn't take long for me to relax and once I feel relaxed, I just go ahead and get the job done the best I can," Voss explains.
