The Home Depot Foundation and Student Veterans of America recently awarded the SVA chapter at Armstrong State University $10,000 for its Military Resource Center on campus as part of the Vet Center Initiative. Armstrong is the only university in Georgia to receive this grant.

“We are deeply honored to receive this generous support, which will help us better serve military-affiliated students on campus,” said Student Veterans of America-Armstrong Chapter President Nakia Cooper. “This grant will make a positive impact on veterans at Armstrong.”

Armstrong’s SVA chapter, housed in the Military Resource Center, is a university-based military veterans group dedicated to supporting the community, service members, fellow veterans, military spouses and their dependents, as well as students. The university’s Military Resource Center provides information to students who have honorably served as members of the U.S. Armed Forces or who are active duty, Reserve or National Guard members as well as their families. Students currently enrolled in the ROTC program are also welcome.

“We are proud to support military-affiliated students to ease their transition from military service to the classroom,” said Armstrong President Linda M. Bleicken. “This generous grant from Home Depot Foundation and Student Veterans of America will help veterans access university resources and connect with other members of the military community at Armstrong.”

Student Veterans of America and The Home Depot Foundation teamed up in 2014 to launch the Vet Center Initiative, offering SVA chapters a chance to compete for up to $10,000 in grant funding to build or renovate a veteran center. By 2015, 61 campuses earned $500,000 to build or rehabilitate veteran centers that benefit more than 30,000 student veterans. This year, 50 universities were awarded grants of up to $10,000, totaling more than $422,000.

Armstrong’s Military Resource Center provides information about additional financial aid, housing, medical and behavioral health assistance, VA benefits and prior learning assessments. Military-affiliated students also have access to computers and a resource library and are able to participate in peer-to-peer individual and group tutoring sessions. The office provides support from internal and external agencies to help veterans as they make their transition from military to university and civilian life. Students are able to receive VA claims assistance, financial advisement, individual and group peer-to-peer counseling, legal aid, chaplain services and referrals to local veterans service organizations.

Earlier this year, Armstrong was ranked 7th among four-year schools on the prestigious Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges 2016 list and named a Top 100 Military Spouse Friendly School by Military Spouse magazine.