The Carroll College Office of Veteran Services in partnership with Montana Joining Community Forces received commendation from the VA's Veteran Experience Office as a leader and innovator in community collaboration. On October 20, the VA's District Veterans Experience Officer, Mr. Jim Wartski, presented this recognition at the Connecting Our Military and Montana Communities Gala in Helena.
Since its inception in 2014, Montana Joining Forces has planned and hosted five annual Military Service Provider Community Symposiums, four Community Resource Fairs and Veteran Stand Downs, two Military Family Christmas Dinners, and has assisted local service members, veterans, and their families with emergency funding. Through this collaboration, veterans attending Carroll College have received financial assistance to help offset the costs of purchasing books and supplies until they began to receive their stipends from the VA.
Carroll College Veteran Services in conjunction with the Montana Campus Compact has recently been approved to host a VISTA member for a term of one year. Through this partnership, Carroll hopes to expand and improve our outreach activities and connect educational services to low-income military families. “I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation on behalf of the entire college community to Ms. Brandy Keely who is the Veteran’s Services Coordinator for Carroll College for her incredible leadership and hard work to serve our students who are veterans,” said Carroll President John Cech.