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Featured photo: Eddie Knighton speaks with members of the college community about services offered to service members, veterans, and their families.
Guest article by: James “Eddie” Knighton, School Certifying Official (SCO) for Veteran’s Affairs and Assistant Director of Financial Aid
In my time working with student veterans at Blue Ridge Community College, I’ve quickly learned that every veteran’s educational journey is unique and often filled with challenges that require exceptional resilience. Veterans bring inspiring dedication, leadership, and perspective to our campus community, both inside and outside the classroom, and it’s an honor to connect them with the resources they need for success. Like so many here at Blue Ridge, I’m deeply committed to welcoming and supporting our veteran community and helping them succeed in higher education.
At Blue Ridge, we’re proud to provide proven career pathways for our veterans. Currently, veterans make up about 2% of our student population, which is slightly below the national average of 4.8% for two-year colleges. Increasing veteran enrollment remains an important goal for us, but being a truly military-friendly college means more than recruitment. It means maintaining an active, ongoing commitment to supporting our active-duty service members, veterans, and their families in every way possible.
That’s why our offices of Financial Aid and Scholarships work closely with both current and prospective veteran students and their families to help them maximize education benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Furthermore, with the generous support of the College’s Educational Foundation and private donors, we strive to go the extra mile in providing valuable financial assistance and guidance. Alongside military benefit entitlements, many veterans and their dependents may also qualify for Federal Student Aid or state scholarships like the Next NC Scholarship. We’re here to help them navigate the process with confidence.
For those seeking to transition to new careers, Blue Ridge offers a wide range of learning opportunities from short-term Workforce Continuing Education programs to two-year associate degrees in fields that provide stable and rewarding work. In fact, we offer over 200 programs in 30 areas of study and dozens of online programs.
Those who have served our nation deserve every opportunity to thrive in civilian life, and our Student Services team is always ready to help veterans achieve their academic and career goals. At Blue Ridge, it’s our privilege to stand beside them as they take the next step in their journey toward personal and professional success.
Veterans interested in learning more about services provided through Blue Ridge Community College are encouraged to contact 828-694-1815 or email veterans@blueridge.edu. Faculty and staff working with a veteran who hasn’t yet explored these benefits are also encouraged to connect them with the team for assistance. More information about Veterans Services is available at www.blueridge.edu/veterans.