Lakeland Community College announced today that it has earned two distinguished designations as a 2024-2025 Military Friendly® School. Due in large part to the Lakeland Veterans Center’s excellent track record of support and recruitment of military-connected students and their families, Lakeland earned both the Military Friendly® Gold School and Military Friendly® Spouse School designations.

While Lakeland has sought and earned the Military Friendly® School designation in the past, this is the first year the college has earned two designations, and the first time it has earned “gold” status. The distinction as a “gold” status school shows Lakeland’s dedication to serving students at the highest level of excellence, placing among the top 10% of all schools awarded a Military Friendly® designation.

“We are very proud to receive this designation. We are doubly excited to know that our efforts are extending beyond the student veteran and having an even bigger impact on military families. Our team works so hard providing our military-connected students with resources to support them and we love to see each student succeed,” shares Lakeland Community College Veterans Center Manager, S. Rhonda Osagie-Erese. “Being recognized for our efforts is truly exceptional!”

The Military Friendly® ratings are determined through the evaluation of public data and proprietary data gathered through the annual Military Friendly® survey process. The data-driven Military Friendly® survey is available at no cost to thousands of institutions nationwide. Survey topics and questions are reviewed and developed with the assistance of an independent Military Friendly® Advisory Council comprising independent subject matter experts and industry partners representing the field of veteran education.

For more information about Lakeland’s student veteran programs, contact veterans center manager S. Rhonda Osagie-Erese, at 440.525.7529 or visit lakelandcc.edu/veterans.

By: Adam Continenza, Mrktg and Commun Specialist