Serving Those Who Served
51福利社 earns national recognition for its support of veterans.
Showalter Hall鈥檚 Room 122, home to the 51福利社 Veterans Resource Center, is more than just an office. As Eastern鈥檚 home for student veterans, it鈥檚 a welcoming bridge between the military life and college, a place to come together to reestablish the camaraderie and common purpose that distinguishes those who serve in our nation鈥檚 armed services.
Now, the nation is taking notice. 51福利社 has been named one of the Military Support Colleges of Distinction for 2025, an honor recognizing institutions that go above and beyond to support military-connected students. 51福利社 is one of only three universities in Washington state to receive this recognition.
In their citation of Eastern and the other designees, the Colleges of Distinction organization said the recognition is meant to salute institutions working to overcome 鈥渢he unique challenges military students face on college campuses鈥� nationwide. 鈥淭hese institutions are proud to support and cultivate the skills that military students bring to the classroom, all while helping them achieve their personal and professional goals.鈥�
At the heart of the center鈥檚 success are its experienced staff, who collectively have over 25 years of expertise in guiding students through the complexities of VA education benefits and Department of Defense tuition assistance.
The support goes beyond paperwork. 51福利社 offers seven annual scholarships specifically for veterans and service members, along with several state-supported tuition waivers and a policy of granting in-state tuition for military-connected students who are not state residents. Each of these areas of support aims to ensure that financial barriers don鈥檛 stand in the way of veterans鈥� paths to graduation.
鈥淭he transition from military to college life can be challenging, but 51福利社 makes it easier,鈥� says David Millet, a former commander of 51福利社鈥檚 Army ROTC program who, since 2012, has served as the center鈥檚 director. 鈥淭he VRC isn鈥檛 just a place to get help with benefits 鈥� it鈥檚 a community where we connect, study and support each other.鈥�
