Tacoma's own Bates Technical College was named to the 2014 Victory Media Military Friendly Schools List. The list, which includes 1,868 institutions, honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools nationwide that provide exceptional resources and assistance for military students and their families.

"We started in 1940, as part of the war effort, so this is in our blood," said Chelsea Lindquist, a communications specialist at Bates. "The military is a big part of the Bates community."

However, this is just the second time that Bates has been named to the list, but the school is dedicated to reserving a permanent spot in the future.

"That first military friendly designation was the initial launch point that really allowed us to examine what our strengths, and, honestly, weaknesses were with regard to our veteran students," explained Blake Ingram, workforce education services manager at Bates.

Ingram, whose job entails working with any college programs focused on helping prospective students, to include veterans, was part of a 25-person task force that worked to improve military programs on campus.

"The major effort, which started back in January, allowed the college to develop the Veterans Career Advanced Placement program to help student veterans earn credits based on their military experience," he said.

Bates also has an active student veteran club and will open a Student Veteran Center later this year. In addition to offering valuable resources and assistance, the center will serve as a gathering space for veterans, military members, spouses and their dependents.

Veteran-owned Victory Media Inc., which was founded in 2001, annually surveys institutions and issues lists that capture best practices in recruitment and retention of military personnel as civilian employees, students and franchisees. Survey results are independently tested by Ernst & Young LLP.

Research findings are compiled and weighted according to the following categories to determine a final score: 24 percent military support on campus; 20 percent academic credibility; 10 percent number of military students; 10 percent academic credit for military service; 10 percent flexibility for military students; 5 percent veteran graduation rates; 5 percent student tuition assistance; 5 percent student survey; 5 percent employment rates; 5 percent military spouse policies; and 1 percent government approvals.

"For Bates, it's not just about the designation but the actual ways that we are military friendly as a school," Ingram said. "It is a motivational designation that will drive us to even do more and continue to improve and implement new elements to benefit the military student population."

Additionally, the newly released 2014 list also included other schools in close proximity to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, including Clover Park Technical College, Pierce College, Pacific Lutheran University, Saint Martin's University, Tacoma Community College, University of Washington Tacoma, The Evergreen State College and South Puget Sound Community College.

For more information on Bates' military programs and benefits, visit www.bates.ctc.edu/Veterans.