For the eighth year, Lakeland has been designated as a Military Friendly® School by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs and Military Spouse magazine. Military Friendly® Schools is recognized as the most comprehensive resource for veterans and their families.

Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from Victory Media's proprietary survey.

Military veteran students who study at Lakeland first meet with the Veterans Affairs Certifying Official Terri Dietz, who will process and certify educational benefits for eligible students. Her own son is a veteran, who served as an Army combat medic in Iraq, which allows her to connect and relate to incoming veteran students with compassion and understanding.

"We are proud to say that this is the eighth consecutive year that we received this designation," said Dietz. "To be honored each year confirms Lakeland's dedication and commitment to our military veterans and their dependents. With nearly 300 students on campus who are veterans, this is an important credential for the college."

Lakeland awards college credit for military experience. Military veterans who would like to learn more about the benefits of starting college at Lakeland should call 440-525-7246. Additional resources for veterans can be found at lakelandcc.edu/veterans.

About the Lakeland Veterans Support Program

The Veterans Support Program assists veterans, guardsmen, reservists, active duty and military families to make a smooth and successful transition into Lakeland Community College while supporting success in their educational goals and linking them to veterans and service member benefits. Lakeland offers military-specific support services and availability of veterans groups and networking. Each May, graduating student veterans are recognized at the college’s Veterans Recognition and Graduation banquet. In 2013, a generous grant from Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, helped to set up a veterans lounge. The space, complete with study areas, a computer and printer, a refrigerator and a television, serves as a meeting point for student veterans on campus to connect.

About Military Friendly® Schools

The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weightings were developed by Victory Media with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. Data calculations and tabulations were independently evaluated for completeness and accuracy by EY. The survey is administered for free and is open to all post-secondary schools that wish to participate. Criteria for consideration can be found at militaryfriendly.com.

About Victory Media

Founded in 2001, Victory Media is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I Jobs®, Military Spouse, Vetrepreneur®, STEM Jobs (SM) and Military Friendly® brands. Learn more at victorymedia.com.

By: Jessica Novak, Mrktg and Commun Specialist