Two Washington Colleges Get Money For Veteran Centers

Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland and Olympic College in Bremerton will get a little more than $100,000 for the next three years to help student veterans.

The grants from the Department of Education will help create centers for student veterans.

In announcing the grant at Olympic College, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer of Port Angeles said the money will ensure that student veterans be supported. "This award is great news for the continued growth of Olympic College as a destination for veterans and active-duty service members,” Kilmer said.

At Lake Washington Institute of Technology, Ruby Hayden said the grant gives student veterans a place to be together. “We just don't have that ability at this point in time, so this grant fundamentally changes that for us as a college,” Hayden said.

The money will also fund a staff position at the center. That person would act as a point person for the college's growing student veteran population. Right now veterans make up about 5 percent of the school.

Lake Washington Institute of Technology is a public two-year technical community college.

The grants are part of $4.9 million being awarded nationally by the Department of Education.