Cypress College
Veterans Education Resource Complex “We don’t leave our men or women in uniform behind.”
Cypress College, Veterans Education Resource Complex
“The United States has always had a pretty sacred rule… We don’t leave our men or women in uniform behind.”
Supporting Our Veterans
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As generous as Veteran’s benefits are, they simply are not enough to provide the emotional and social support necessary for student veterans to transition to civilian life and succeed in their pursuit of higher education.
It’s an honored creed held universally by each branch of the United States military. And it’s just that simple… we don’t leave our men or women in uniform behind when in combat.
Cypress College’s Commitment to Student Veterans... They Will Not Be Left Behind! There are more than 600 student veterans attending Cypress College. That number has continually risen since fall 2009 – and it’s projected to increase even further as the Global War on Terrorism continues.
Student Veterans Face Unparalleled Challenges After more than fifteen years fighting the War on Terror with multiple deployments for many vets, today’s student veterans face unparalleled challenges and significant psychological issues. Specifically: • At least 20% suffer from PTSD and/or depression • 50% with PTSD don’t seek treatment…and of those who do seek treatment, only 50% get “minimally adequate treatment” • 19% suffer from traumatic brain injury (TBI) while 7% have both PTSD and TBI • 39% of veterans abuse alcohol The most disturbing statistic reported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is that, on average, 20 veterans commit suicide each day…more than 7,400 in 2014. Cypress College student veterans reflect these same statistics. A substantial number suffer from PTSD and TBI. Many face financial hardships; a few are homeless. In one year alone, there were 36 incidents including 8 suicide attempts, 12 veterans verbally disclosed having suicidal ideations, and 6 active assessments for veterans at-risk of suicide.
Cypress College has vowed to help all student veterans by providing the facilities, resources, programs, and social services necessary to succeed. Further, the College is committed to pay tribute to their sacrifices and educate other students and faculty members to understand what they experienced in the military.
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Cypress College, Veterans Education Resource Complex
The Veterans Education Resource Complex To Support, Educate and Honor Cypress College’s Student Veterans
The Complex will create and expand awareness and knowledge within the general student and faculty population regarding student veteran’s service to their country; substantial sacrifices they’ve made; tragic experiences they might have suffered; and the personal challenges they – and all veterans – face each day.
“We owe them our gratitude. But more importantly, we owe them an education and a chance to have meaningful new careers and fulfilling civilian lives.� Dr. Robert Simpson U.S. Army Veteran and former Cypress College President
Cypress College, Veterans Education Resource Complex
One Student Veteran’s Story… When Marine Sergeant Stevan Vargas returned home from his second deployment to Afghanistan, he struggled with his demons. “What’s wrong with me; am I crazy? Why am I so angry? I used to be human, but now I feel empty. I feel like a monster.” Stevan would awake from constant nightmares and have to slap himself to mentally return to San Diego. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) had left constant wars within Stevan’s head. His loving wife provides the support that helps him cope one day a time. The Marine Corps gave him just three months to transition from deployment in a war zone to becoming a productive member of society once again. And as Stevan says, “This is something we cannot deal with alone because dealing with it alone can kill you.” Upon his honorable discharge, Stevan attempted to return to his pre-military profession as an electrician. Unfortunately, the physical demands were too painful as a result of injuries he suffered during his deployments. In 2015, Stevan enrolled at Cypress College.
His first weeks at Cypress were extremely difficult. Surrounded by thousands of students, he said, “I was filled with major anxiety and feelings that no one had my back.” Stevan missed the structure, comradery, and emotional security of the Marines. His first semester was almost lost; then he discovered the Veterans Resource Center. At the VRC’s early makeshift space on campus, Stevan found fellow veterans, knowledgeable staff and volunteers, counseling, and support services to help him cope and navigate through both college requirements and veteran benefits. He also discovered newfound purpose in helping other student vets. He became president of the Cypress College Veterans Organization and joined other student vets give back to the community through a variety of service projects including painting the local senior center, preparing meals at the local Ronald McDonald House, and supporting wounded warriors.
Stevan Vargas
Stevan persevered and succeeded at the College earning a 3.95 GPA and a place on the President’s Honor Roll each semester. Upon graduation in May 2017, Stevan transferred to CSU Long Beach as an Electrical Engineering student.
The military spends hundreds of millions of dollars for young men and women to become marines, soldiers, airmen, and sailors, but it doesn’t sufficiently prepare them for life after the military.
Making a Difference… Cypress College Commits to Support, Educate and Honor Like countless other vets, Stevan Vargas credits Cypress College and its Veterans Resource Center for his successful transition to civilian life and his personal achievements. To fully succeed, Cypress student vets need far more than just a state-of-theart Veterans Resource Center. They also need comprehensive social services and an understanding of their past experiences and present challenges. And finally, they want to recognize, honor, and pay tribute to the sacrifices others have made for our country.
Student Veterans Excel and Succeed Success is defined differently for each individual who attends Cypress College. For student veterans, it’s more than just a degree or certificate; it’s their transition to a fulfilling civilian life.
James Ritchie After serving six years in the U.S. Navy as an E-3 Aviation Electronics Technician, James Ritchie entered Cypress College. After graduation, he transferred to CSU Fullerton earning a B.A. in Business & HR Management. Today he is a Human Resources Coordinator for Green Cross of America.
Jennifer Guetterman Jennifer Guetterman exemplifies the benefits of Cypress College’s commitment to veterans. An Air National Guard C130J pilot she earned her career certification in Cypress’ Aviation and Airline program.
Juan Garcia After multiple deployments with the 1st, 2nd, and 5th Battalions of the U.S. Marine Corps from 2004 - 2008, Juan Garcia attended Cypress College where he found the experience quite intimidating. The VRC helped and Juan eventually reciprocated by forming the Cypress College Veterans Organization. After graduating from Cypress, Juan earned his B.S. in Human Services and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from USC. Today, Juan is a full-time Veteran Counselor.
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Cypress College, Veterans Education Resource Complex
The Veterans Education Resource ComplexFour Vital Components This unique Complex will consist of four distinct components: the Tribute Garden, a Veterans Memorial Bridge, a Veterans Resource Center, and an Outdoor Event Plaza. The components illustrate a time line and symbolize student veteran’s life experiences in the past, present, and future. The “past” honors the veteran’s history and sacrifices in the tribute garden; the “present” is delineated in the bridge element and provides a spiritual place for reflection and healing; and the “future” is supported by the Veterans Center and its outdoor plaza, providing a place for the students to achieve success through education and become leaders in their community. 1
Tribute Garden Adjacent to the north end of the Veterans Memorial Bridge will be a beautifully landscaped Tribute Garden where lighted flags will proudly fly 24/7/365 as a symbol of honor and freedom. The Tribute Garden’s tiered path will also function as a memorial to all those who served and sacrificed for our US armed forces.
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Veterans Memorial Bridge The Veterans Memorial Bridge, lined with benches overlooking the pond, will allow the Veterans to find a place to pause and have a place of spiritual reflection. The Bridge will physically and spiritually connect the Tribute Garden with the Veterans Resource Center on the opposite side of the pond.
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Outdoor Event Plaza
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Veterans Resource Center
Adjacent to the VRC will be an enhanced plaza for outdoor class presentations, guest lectures, community events, and county-wide gatherings to commemorate events such as 9-11, Memorial Day, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and key historical and celebratory dates. The Veterans Resource Center will support the transition, integration, and personal development of the individual student veterans as they move throughout the higher education system.
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Cypress College, Veterans Education Resource Complex
From Vision to Reality Filling a Vital Need with Support, Appreciation and Tribute Cypress College and the North Orange County Community College District recognize the need for an even greater, collective commitment to student veterans and all students. They’ve already given so much to our country…and they’ve continued to give back to our community since their return.
More than just a resource center, the Veterans Educational Resource Complex will: • Pay tribute to student veterans’ service and many sacrifices • Provide student veterans expanded educational and social services • Educate the general student population and administration about America’s military history, student veteran sacrifices, and the challenges they face transitioning back to civilian life • Recognize their continuing contributions to the College and community • Provide the only Veterans Memorial Bridge, Event Plaza, and Tribute Garden in the greater Orange County region where the community can honor their family members who served and sacrificed
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A goal of $3 million will fund: Completion of the centerpiece Veterans Resource Center Re-configuration and renovation of the Outdoor Event Plaza Construction of the Veterans Memorial Bridge Creation of the Tribute Garden Endowment funds for future Student Veteran needs
Cypress College, Veterans Education Resource Complex
Ways You Can Support, Educate And Honor Student Veterans
Tribute Garden Adjacent to the north end of the Veterans Memorial Bridge and the nearby Science, Engineering & Math building will be a beautifully landscaped Tribute Garden where lighted flags of each branch of the United States Armed Services
will proudly and continuously fly. The Garden will also include tiered areas where students can sit, observe and recognize not only the past service of student veterans, but of all active duty military personnel protecting our country 24/7/365. Finally, the
Tribute Garden’s tiered path will function as a memorial where the names of Orange County Veterans who served, as well as those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our country, can be listed, honored, and remembered.
The Garden will provide all students – as well as members of the community visiting the campus – a place to sit, rest, and reflect on their personal challenges, as well as those that all veterans today and throughout history have faced.
Cypress College, Veterans Education Resource Complex
Memorial Bridge More than a pathway across the College’s ponds located in the center of the College campus, the Veterans Memorial Bridge will recognize and honor each of the five military branches – Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. While the Bridge will connect the Veterans Resource Center and the Tribute Garden on the opposite side, its pathway will not be straight. Rather, the Bridge will be slightly curved to represent the indirect path veterans have taken to reach their higher education and life goals. The Bridge will also depict a historical timeline identifying the more than twenty wars and military conflicts in which our brave veterans served, protected, and sacrificed to preserve our freedoms.
Cypress College, Veterans Education Resource Complex
Outdoor Event Plaza Immediately adjacent to the north entrance of the VRC will be a reconfigured and technology-enhanced plaza for outdoor class presentations, guest lectures, community events, and County-wide gatherings to commemorate 9-11, Memorial Day, Holocaust
Remembrance Day, and key historical and celebratory dates. The Plaza will be equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting, a stage, and seating capabilities that will accommodate up to 1,000 guests with activities ranging from classroom lectures to
student fairs, concerts, art festivals, and other events sponsored by the College, as well as by local civic and community groups. Immediately in front of the VRC and at select locations within the Plaza will be several pedestal kiosk LED screens that will create
an interactive audio-visual experience presenting a series of ever-changing quotes, facts, and short veteran stories of sacrifice, challenge, and success, as well as information about upcoming tributes and other events scheduled to occur in the Plaza.
Pedestal Kiosk
Cypress College, Veterans Education Resource Complex
Veterans Resource Center The Veterans Education Resource Complex’s centerpiece will be a state-ofthe-art Veterans Resource Center where Cypress College staff and volunteers support the transition, integration, and personal development of the individual student veterans as they move throughout the higher education system. The new VRC – equipped with furnished private counseling rooms, social space and patio, computers and other technology – will be designed to meet the unique needs of student veterans while they attend Cypress College. Services offered in the VRC include assistance with campus navigation, admissions application, financial aid, veterans’ benefits information, academic and personal advising, success and retention services, career development and advising services, supportive services focused on academic achievement, emotional support services, and a sense of community.
for information and donation opportunities call:
Cypress College Foundation 714-484-7126