However, JCC enrollment numbers are starting to climb back up post COVID-19, and these numbers include the veteran and military-aligned populous.

College officials hosted a welcome reception for veterans and military-aligned students at JCC’s Hulquist building in the Student Veteran’s Lounge. Several high-ranking college officials were on hand to provide information about assistance with using federal education benefits, veteran’s lounges and clubs and to meet JCC leadership and Military Support Committee members.

“Welcome to — or welcome back to — JCC,” said Don Pool, JCC’s accessibility services coordinator, military veteran and JCC/Fredonia alumnus. “After the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems like a lot of our military-student veterans just disappeared, but now we’re starting to see enrollment numbers go back up, and even more military veterans’ family members are using their mother or father’s G.I. Bill’s benefits to go to school here.”

By all accounts, JCC’s leadership team is very much veteran-centric and is comprised of military veterans or military family members too.

Don Pool, SUNY Jamestown Community College’s accessibility services coordinator, military veteran and JCC/Fredonia alumnus, standing, addresses military veteran students, their family members and college leadership team, during a welcome back event, held at JCC recently. P-J photos by Chris Blakeslee

“This is Dr. Daniel DeMarte, our college president,” Pool said, as he introduced him to the assembled group of veterans. “Dr DeMarte is a veteran himself.”

DeMarte served in the U.S. Air Force prior to becoming education administrator.

Additionally, on hand to answer questions about the Montgomery G.I. Bill, Post-911 G.I. Bill or funding military students’ educational endeavors, was Melissa Stormer, the college’s senior student services assistant, school certifying official and military resources and services officer. Stormer is herself a former military spouse and college military advocate. Stormer shared valuable knowledge on how to navigate programs like the active duty and active reserves Tuition Assistance Program, Department of Veteran Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation Program and other veteran-based programs and services, thus cutting one’s way through red tape.

“We’ve got three Army soldiers and three airmen here,” Pool said. “No Marines and no Navy or Coast Guard — I guess it’s a fair fight then.”

“No, they’re to busy eating crayons,” said one veteran (a common insult which is generally leveled at U.S. Marines) in response to Pool’s question.