Veterans center opens at CyFair campus

Military veterans have a new resource at Lone Star College-CyFair, 9191 Barker Cypress Road.

The Texas Veterans Commission is partnering with the college to offer services at the CyFair campus' student advising area in the Learning Commons Building.

Veterans will be able to work with representatives from the commission and the college on résumé preparation, job searches, career counseling, interview techniques and referrals for financial assistance.

Lone Star College already offers a Veterans Affairs Center at the college's University Park location, said Robert Patterson Jr., a veterans' employment representative with the Texas Veterans Commission.

But because of the high numbers of veterans who are students at the CyFair campus - approximately 450 - the college system asked the commission to help it reach out to them there.

The college's new veterans office held its grand opening celebration May 11.

"This is one more place veterans can go that might be nearby," said Patterson, who will be at the CyFair campus every Wednesday.

"They're here anyhow, so they might as well come on by."

While all students can benefit from career assistance, these services can be especially important to those striving to make the transition from military to civilian life, Patterson said.

"For many young veterans, the first job they had in their life was military service. They've never had an opportunity to do an interview or job search. It can be intimidating. We're here to help."

The center was good news to recent Lone Star graduate Max Mcswain, a retired gunnery sergeant with the U.S. Marines and co-founder of the college's student veterans' association.

Not only will student veterans benefit from the career services on campus, Mcswain said, they'll have easier access to Texas Veterans Commission assistance with federal and state benefits.

"A lot of the student veterans had concerns about their disability benefits," said Mcswain, who received his associate's degree in liberal arts from the college May 14.

The commission represents veterans in filing U.S. Veterans Administration disability claims. Commission representatives make sure claims include all of the information necessary for VA approval.

"By having the center, veterans will have quick access to that," Mcswain said. "It really is a benefit."

Jerri Brandyburg is Lone Star's Veterans Affairs Center liaison to the CyFair campus.

One of her roles is to help student veterans with degree planning to ensure they take classes they need and remain on track to continue receiving education funding.

Brandyburg will work with Lone Star representatives Roger Dimick and Judy Bouvier.

"We have a really good group. If we don't have the answer, we try to find that answer," Brandyburg said.

The CyFair veterans' office also is open to student veterans from other Lone Star campuses.

"It will be a big help," Brandyburg said. "Veterans have told me they can't find jobs. Now they can see our counselors. Everything is geared toward helping them find employment."

For information, call 281-290-3432 or 281-290-3200, or visit LoneStar.edu/.