Veterans of the US military have more benefits afforded to them now, than any previous generation, and Kendall Evans with Veterans Services wants every single vet at Highline to take advantage of them.

If you’re a veteran, you have already seen the basics: the act of enrolling in classes requires you to email your schedule and verify your monthly enrollment with the Veterans Affairs (VA). But there is so much more at Highline that is built just for you, as well as a team dedicated to guiding you every step of the way.

This is where Evans comes in. He gave the Thunderword a better look at the Veterans Services Office, including its full calendar of events, and a team of VA student employees who work solely to usher you through the college experience while taking advantage of the full breadth of your benefits.

The office staff is already planning a get-together at Building 2 from 3-6 p.m. on Nov. 7 to celebrate Veterans Day. As with all other events, Evans wants all veterans to know that every detail will be sent in advance to your student email, so mark your calendars and drop by!

But even an average day calls for some camaraderie. “If you’ve got time in between classes, come and hang out,” Evans told us, highlighting the Veterans Services Office location on the first floor at Building 6. The biggest resource, you’ll find, are those around you.

Sometimes hearing what your peers are going through can be the exact push we need to take that extra step. VA student worker Nathan DeLorenzo chimed in, “A lot of what I’ve learned about my benefits is from coming here and speaking to other veterans.”

A harsh reality of military life is the isolation that can occur when re-entering the civilian world, and Veterans Services wants everyone to know that they were built for someone like you to stop by and hang out. 

“There is no shame in asking for help. You’re not doing this by yourself,” Evans emphasized. The excitement at Building 6 is just the beginning; the Veterans Services manager is also pleased to announce the center’s upcoming location change.

Once Christmas break is over, you will find a freshly constructed Veterans Center in Building 23 room 111, with a 50-inch monitor, coffee area, and a computer lab, to continue the upward trend of ensuring that each generation of veterans is given more opportunities than the last.

While things are changing for the better, there are some constants that every veteran on campus can rely on. The Veterans Services staff are eagerly waiting for you to come by. 

Evans can be reached at:  keevans@highline.edu / Office #: (206) 592-3285

For more information about resources for veterans visit the Veterans Services Office webpage: https://veterans.highline.edu/