Jason M. King, director of veterans services at Wor-Wic Community College, shows off the dedicated veterans lounge.

Wor-Wic Community College recently received a five-year grant from the U.S Department of Education’s Veterans Upward Bound Program to support veterans on the Lower Eastern Shore.

The grant, which will total $1.48 million over five years, supports services and academic instruction for veterans as they pursue postsecondary education. Veterans services at Wor-Wic include a dedicated center with a computer lab, plus tutoring, academic advising and assistance with applying for Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits and evaluating military transcripts.

“It’s a one-stop shop where we provide help with everything from registration to course work,” said Jason M. King, director of veterans services. “We have seen many veterans attain success by starting here. Many of them already have college credits, because of the training they received in the service, and they have a lot of resilience, tenacity and other qualities that can help them excel in higher education.”

The grant was designed to motivate and assist veterans in the development of academic and other skills necessary for college success. U.S Army veteran and Wor-Wic student John Whipps, who is studying computer science, says it’s a big help.

“The veterans services have made the transition back to school seamless,” he said. “The staff is always willing to answer any questions and has been amazing with helping me apply for programs and grants.”

To learn more about veterans services at Wor-Wic, visit www.worwic.edu and click on “Services and Support.”