Savannah Technical College has been named a Gold-level Military Friendly School Award recipient in the category of community colleges for 2017 by Victory Media.

New this year, Military Friendly® Awards showcase the most powerful and effective programs of more than 200 companies and 1,200 post-secondary schools that were designated as “Military Friendly®”. Of those designated, 154 employers and 541 schools have been recognized for excellence. Gold-level colleges score within 20% of the top ten institutions.

“All of our Military Friendly® award recipients set the standard for excellence,” said Daniel Nichols, Chief Product Officer of Victory Media and head of Military Friendly® development. “They offer exceptional examples of what it means not just to build a program that meets federal requirements, but one that serves the military and veteran community from classrooms to careers.”

Earlier this year, Savannah Tech was ranked first in the U.S. by Military Times as Best for Vets: Career & Technical Colleges 2017 rankings.

One in four STC students is a veteran, active duty service member or a military dependent/spouse. The College waives all general mandatory fees for active duty service members using military tuition assistance. In 2015, Savannah Tech opened a Veteran’s Service Center at the Savannah campus. Savannah Tech has the largest enrollment of military-affiliated students in the Technical College System of Georgia.

The College offers career fairs, workshops and grants for veterans and their family members. In 2016, the Freedom Fund was established to provide scholarship assistance for soldiers, veteran and spouses thanks to a generous donation. The needs-based fun supports those who serve by buying books and tools for active duty service members, paying registration fees each semester for military spouses (MyCAA) students and covering unpaid tuition and registration fees up to 100% for those with VA benefits not covering 100% education benefits.

Another scholarship that supports Savannah Tech’s military spouses is funded by The Landings Military Family Relief Fund. This scholarship fund provides tuition assistance to military spouses eligible for the MYCAA program, who have exhausted their benefits. The Landings Military Spouse Academic Assistance Fund awards a maximum of $2,000 annually for up to two years, for a total of $4,000 per student.

Savannah Tech’s Military Outreach Coordinator Jeff Ashmen coordinates a variety of initiatives enabling current and former military personnel, as well as their family members, to enroll in the college, graduate, and engage in careers with our local industries and businesses. Ashmen’s extensive background in the U.S. Army includes more than three decades of experience in key military positions, culminating as the 3rd Infantry Division Command Sergeant Major at Ft. Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.

Victory Media, originator of the family of Military Friendly® employment, entrepreneurship and education resources for veterans and their families, published its special awards for 2017 Military Friendly® Schools and Employers at https://militaryfriendly.com. For more than a decade, Military Friendly® ratings have set the standard for companies and colleges demonstrating positive employment and education outcomes for veterans and their families.

For more information about military services or enrollment, visit www.savannahtech.edu/military<http://www.savannahtech.edu/military> or contact Ashmen (912.443.4155 or [email protected]).