News Article

Veterans Turned Students Form Organization to Ease Transition

Oct 5, 2009

Veterans Turned Students Form Club to Ease Transition

From the battlefield to the classroom, many veterans returning home to Southwest Florida choose Edison State College to further their education and train for civilian life.

This year two students formed a club for others with similar backgrounds and interest.  Johnny Lee Williams, U.S. Marine, and Jonathan Hakes, U.S. Navy, formed the Veterans’ Organization on the Edison State Campus in Lee County and is affiliated with Student Veteran’s of America in Washington DC. 

” The Veteran’s Organization is linked with the Student Veteran’s of America, making Edison State College the headquarters for all of Southwest Florida at this time.” explains Williams, Founder of the organization.

“The Veterans’ Organization was formed to help our fellow veterans in the transition from military life to student life,” said Jonathan Hakes, President of the Lee Campus V.O... “It’s a place where Veteran students can have a shoulder to lean on in anything they do…a ‘strength in numbers’ approach.”

The Veterans’ Organization is forming key partnerships to support student vets.  The group works closely with the local Red Cross and the local chapter of the American Legion which has been active in our community for 90 years. Such partnerships help ensure that their membership has the resources needed for the variety of situations veterans face.

“We don’t want our vet’s to feel helpless. Coming back from the battlefield can be a tough transition, but we are here to help in numerous ways,” explains Williams, who served a tour in Iraq in 2003. His unit received 112 Purple Hearts in three months. “The Red Cross has a local rep that can help a vet get re-situated and back on their feet if someone runs into a problem. A support group meets monthly at Perkins to share a meal. We’re also putting together a joint newsletter with the American Legion to share information with the community and our students. And the VO has established a “Bookshare” program so that our vets can save a lot of money on texts.”

Williams started the Bookshare program several years ago- before the Veteran’s Organization became an official organization. He has collected texts from numerous courses and degrees and set up a mini library. Members of the V.O. can check out texts for a semester and return them, greatly reducing their education costs.

The Veteran’s Organization is currently active at Edison State College’s Lee Campus. The group is currently open to veterans and current service members. The Veteran’s Organization has thirty active members, and Williams encourages every vet or family member of a veteran to join. According to Williams, there are over 300 students on the Lee campus attending ESC on the GI bill.

Williams and Hakes plan to expand the organization to include chapters on Collier and Charlotte campuses. The Veterans’ Organization is currently working with the Student Life offices on both campuses to find veteran students as well as a faculty advisor for the group. The Veteran’s Organization will eventually include both Veterans’ Dependent members and Friends of Veterans.

“The goal of the VO is to provide support to our service members active and retired,” states Hakes.  “As for a final goal the sky is the limit.”

The ESC SVO is actively seeking donations in support of scholarships and program needs for the veterans.  If you are interested in making a gift in support of their efforts, please make checks payable to Edison State College Foundation, Inc.  In the memo line, please mention your wish to support the SVO. Gifts in support of the Edison State College Veterans Organization qualify as a tax deductible gift. Mailing address: Edison State College Foundation, Inc.,8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers, FL 33919 and include Memo:  ESC SVO. The Veteran’s Organization is currently planning fundraising activities with some of their recent affiliates.

For more information about the Veterans’ Organization at Edison State College, please contact jwilliams8@edison.edu or phone : 239 -878 -8624. Alternatively, please stop by S102C to meet Jonathan Hakes.  The Veterans Organization will be meeting every two weeks on Lee campus.

For questions regarding gifts to the ESC VO, please contact Edward Kominowski, Development Officer, Edison State College Foundation, Inc. at 239-489-9015

Last Updated: October 5, 2009