York Technical College is proud to have a reputation as a “military-friendly” college. For our entire 50 year history, we have provided high-quality, real-world education and training to veterans seeking to gain new skills, enhance existing skills, or translate the skills they learned in the military to the civilian workplace.

One demonstration of this commitment is a dedicated space for veterans—students, faculty, and staff—to connect with each other and find the resources they need to succeed, both in school and in the transition to civilian life.

In a comfortable suite of rooms in the Student Services building, veterans can take advantage of three spaces designed just for them: a fully-equipped computer lab, a quiet area to study between classes, and a lounge which is also used for special events such as guest speakers and discussion groups.

“Going to college can be a difficult transition for anyone, but when you combine that with the transition to civilian life, you can see what a challenge many of these men and women are facing,” said York Tech Veterans Services Specialist Sherina DuBose-Tillman. “Veterans Services is where they can come for the support they need—from the college and from each other.”

York Tech’s Veterans’ Services facility was made possible by the generous support of the South Carolina Army National Guard, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and members of the York Tech faculty.

Questions?
Visit the YTC Veterans Center, SS-300
Call 803-325-2898
Email [email protected]

York Tech shows how Veterans Day is more than once a year

By Andrew Dys, Rock Hill Herald

As York Technical College’s Veterans Day Commemoration was about to start Tuesday, a group of students from one class hustled to make it on time. A guy in a beard and a United States Marine Corps sweatshirt ushered the criminal justice class into the courtyard, and the students all stood together. The bearded guy had mentioned to the class that the school was honoring veterans and thought it a good idea for everybody to take a few minutes to be there.

The bearded guy is not the professor, or teacher. He is a 31-year-old student.

“Conrad Carson,” he said. “Marine Corps. Iraq. Twice.”

Carson stood at attention when the national anthem was beautifully sung by a staffer named Brittany Henderson. People around the edges of the ceremony whispered how beautiful the song was done. A few even were crying. Carson was not crying. He stood at attention with his right hand at salute.

Conrad Carson showed, at York Tech, what Veterans Day is all about.
Next to Carson stood another man at attention, saluting, during the anthem.

“Charlie Mobley,” the man said. “Afghanistan. Army.”

Charlie Mobley, 24, from York, who stood as tall as a giant oak tree at that ceremony, wants to be a cop after college. Mobley, who survived the deserts and mountains of Afghanistan, also showed at York Tech what Veterans Day is all about.

And they are not alone.

More than 250 veterans from all branches of the service are students at the school. Last year, York Tech opened a veterans services center that has special programs in not just education, but job readiness and peer engagement for veterans.

“Students who are veterans are very responsible – they know what they want and they work hard to get it,” said Sherina DuBose-Tillman, a veterans specialist at York Tech. “Our veterans here add value to the campus and student body. Employers want the qualities that veterans have.”

York Tech student Kimberly Andrews spoke at the College’s Veterans Day program about her experience as a veteran, parent and student.

One of the student veterans at York Tech who spoke Tuesday was not what many would consider a typical vet. Kimberly Andrews, mother of twins, served three years in the Air Force inspecting planes before starting a family and then heading to college. Like so many veteran students, Andrews is older than many of her classmates and knows about responsibility from her home, working and military lives, and so she is an example for other students to follow.

“When people find out I am a veteran – and obviously I am not a male veteran – people are sometimes taken aback because typically people think of veterans as men,” said Andrews, whose father served 20 years in the military. “But there are many women out there serving this country.”

And at places such as York Tech, many of those veterans come back to civilian life and use the earned military GI Bill grants that help pay for college and a chance to excel in life.

In the front row of Tuesday’s ceremony sat a quiet guy. He stood at attention, too, when the national anthem was played, as rigid and strong as a steel sculpture. He clapped for people, when actually people should have been clapping for him.

When the Rock Hill VFW Post 2889 Honor Guard fired a 21-gun salute, and the American Flag flew next to him, it was for him.

He is Justin Pryor, Marines combat veteran from these wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The ceremony finished and Pryor, after a couple of minutes, just walked off. He walked right off the Anderson Road campus in Rock Hill and down the street and walked south onto the shoulder of busy Dave Lyle Boulevard.

With one degree in welding under his belt at York Tech, and working on more schooling, Pryor was asked why he was walking in a world where everybody drives. He said it was a beautiful day and there were no bombs and bullets like the roads in the war zones.

“A day like today, you learn to enjoy the nice ones,” Pryor said.

Just books and learning, and the future. Pryor walked into all of it with his head held high.

Like Kimberly Andrews and Charlie Mobley and Conrad Carson, Justin Pryor sure earned a ceremony Tuesday on the day America stops for a few minutes and says thanks to those who volunteer and sacrifice for the rest of us – Veterans Day.

This story originally appeared in the Rock Hill Herald on November 12, 2014. We are grateful to the Herald for allowing us to share it in CareerFocus.

Essential College and Career Resources for Veterans

1. GI Jobs: Your Guide to Post-Military Success (gijobs.com)
A wealth of resources for veterans who are just getting ready to return to college or enter the job market. Find information about veteran’s college benefits, occupations and salaries along with tips for interviewing, resume writing and job hunting.

2. Student Veterans of America (studentveterans.org)
Support and resources for veterans attending college.
500 chapters nationwide.

3. Military.com (military.com)
Connects service members, families and veterans to a wide range of services and benefits from discounts and mentors to government benefits and scholarships.

4. My Next Move for Veterans (mynextmove.org/vets)
Research your next career and determine how your military experience translates into civilian employment.

5. GI Bill (gibill.va.gov)
Determine which veterans’ education benefit is right for you and
apply online.