November 9, 2020

Triton College provides opportunities for veterans

Veterans of the United States Armed Forces are encouraged to consider enrolling at Triton College to further their education and earn skills to get them U.S. workforce ready. The college has over 110 degree and certificate programs which both recently discharged and retired veterans can choose from.

Popular areas of study for veterans include law enforcement, fire science, criminal justice and youth services. Construction and professional management courses are popular too, with student-vets, said Ken Smith, director of Admission and Veterans Resource coordinator.

“The sense of community at Triton, the ethnic diversity and the campus size helps to make the transition from Army life to civilian life much easier. In the military, we are used to having experiences with a very diverse group of individuals,” said Paul Cadogan, Army combat veteran formerly stationed at Ft. Polk, La. now studying criminal justice with plans to become a youth probation officer.

“Triton is so close to the city, making it a melting pot of students which is a great thing for an incoming veteran. I have found that it is a happy place for people continuing their education,” Cadogan said.

Enrolling at Triton provides an opportunity for veterans to study and attend classes with busy students that are in a similar life stage. Since the average age of a Triton College student is 29 the likelihood of commonalities among classmates, such as full-time responsibilities outside of class including families and jobs, is higher.

Student-Vets have access to all campus resources and facilities, including the library, fitness and health center, advising and tutoring, the Transfer Center, Career Services and the Student Center & Cafeteria, just as any other student.

Ashley Hernandez, former Army specialist, decided to enroll at Triton to study criminal justice after a 10-year break. She currently works in the security industry for the U.S. government and plans to use her education for professional advancement.

“I want to move up the ranks. I returned to school to finish what I started years ago, and to put this hard-earned degree on my resume,” Hernandez said.

However, while the opportunities at Triton abound, the most important first step for veterans considering enrolling is to get familiar with available state and federal education benefits, understand their differences and what they will cover, Ruby Hilker, senior financial aid specialist and School Certifying Official said. Interested veterans should visit here.

Five Steps to Enrolling at Triton College for Veterans:

1. Familiarize themselves with educational benefits, including grants and scholarships.

2. Visit ebenefits.va.gov to apply for federal educational benefits. Visit isac.org to apply for state benefits.

3. Contact Ken Smith, Triton College director of Admission and the Veterans Resource coordinator, for admissions information.

4. After admission make an advising appointment to discuss areas of study and classes.

5. Meet with the School Certifying Official (SCO) in the Financial Aid Office.