In recent months, Clover Park Technical College opened a Veterans Resource Center on its campus.

The college decided to open the center to give veterans and their families a place to congregate, said Shawn Jennison, the director of marketing and communications at the school.

"The center is a place for veterans to meet and get assistance on just about any type of paperwork," Jennison said.  "There is a growing population of veterans in the South Sound, and there were a lot of students affiliated with the military, or they have a spouse who is in the military."

The center includes a lounge, computer lab, children's play area, a large room to conduct seminars, a laptop and other equipment to use for presentations, and counseling services.

The center is open to the public.  However, you may want to use the services if you are a family member of active duty Army, Marines, Air Force, or Navy; have recently exited active duty and would like help with the paperwork for your GI Bill, VA Health Care, or filing disability claims; are a veteran interested in pursuing a new career; or are a continuing education veteran.

"This school has strong ties to the military, and the center is a way for us to give back to the military community as well as serving the students in our backyard," Jennison said.

Counselors are available to assist veterans and their family members with paperwork on everything from online applications for GI Bills, disabilities, VA health Care, grant assistance programs, finding available benefits they are qualified for, and filling out school and financial aid forms.  The counselors also assist veterans with such things as researching jobs after their military service and planning for life after they retire from the military.  Guest speakers and events also are held in the center. 

Clover Park officials have received positive feedback about the Veterans Resource Center since its inception.

"People are constantly putting comments about the center on our Facebook page," he said. "And we also get people who come in and tell us how great it is to have such a place."

Listed as a best practice for the college, the center may be the only one like it.

"Other colleges have veteran's resources, but I don't know if they have centers for veterans like ours," he said.  "I think this center is important because it is a designated place for people with similar backgrounds.  It brings people with military backgrounds together to network ... and it brings a feeling of camaraderie.  There is a real relationship aspect to it."

The Veterans Resource Center is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For details, call (253) 539-5966 or visit the Web site at www.cptc.edu.