Sacramento State offers a haven for veterans and their families in the new Veterans Success Center.

The Veterans Success Center offers a summer bridge program as a transition from military life to school to inform new veteran students about the special services provided by the school and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The program introduces veterans to peer mentors who help with coursework and research.

“It was difficult to adjust to civilian culture at first. I got out of the Marine Corps on a Friday and started school on Monday morning,” said Ryan Roebuck, veterans benefit adviser and Marine Corps veteran.

The Veterans Center helps process student benefits, including federal work study. The center employs student veterans and plans to increase employment next semester.

“I was lacking some very basic life-related information, like job leads, and where and what I needed to do in order to access some of the benefits I was eligible for as a result of my military service,” Roebuck said. “That has changed under the leadership of Jeff Weston and of the Student Veterans Organization, who have worked tirelessly at building comprehensive policies and services aimed at limiting the hardships associated with military transition.”

The Veterans Center also has a program that helps with resumes and interviews, as well as offers counseling help.

Veterans Admissions Counselor Mateo Avila personally works with Sac State veterans during the application process.

“The programs and services provided here greatly contributed to my success as an undergrad and graduate student. Without those supports, I question whether or not I would have been as successful as I have been,” Roebuck said.

The Veterans Success Center is open to veterans, students on active duty, reservists and their families. Students are encouraged to reach out to other veterans with the Veterans Success Center’s activities such as luncheons and hunting trips. The center is also involved in community outreach programs such as the “Yes We Can” canned food drive.

“It’s great that we can offer a space for meetings now, when we couldn’t before,” said Adam Borrego, a U.S. Navy veteran.

“Attendance has gone way up since we don’t have to look for an empty room. Everyone knows where we can go.”

The center now serves more than 1,300 students and dependents who called for the newly renovated center to open. The new site is twice as large as the old Veterans Success Center, and offers computers, a mini fridge and study areas to students.

The main purpose of the center is to give the students a place to connect with other veterans. The students plan events to go to together, such as the Causeway Classic.

“Students can have a hard time transitioning from military to civilian and college life. Most veterans will tell you that the closest friends they’ve had in their entire lives were made in the service,” said Lindsey Wathen, a veterans benefit adviser. “Losing those bonds and the sense of community is a particularly difficult transitional experience.”

Sac State students can get involved by attending their offered Veteran Friendly Zone Basic Training. This event is offered monthly to expand student knowledge of veteran life and the benefits offered.

“This is a really great place for networking. People can just come in and hang out,” Borrego said.

Ivy McDonald can be reached at [email protected]