SERVING THE COMMUNITY
Veterans Gain Life Skills in Green to Gold Program
Young veterans are getting help transitioning to the life and career they want in a new series of free workshops offered by RCC . Veterans receive mentoring and support to help them clarify their goals and design a viable personal plan to achieving their career and financial goals . The series is offered on Saturdays and includes a “ Next Mission ” working visit to West Point in April .
The program is led by Suffern resident Patrick Curran , who enlisted in the Army after attending North Rockland HS and graduated West Point in 1997 . Curran served as a US Army engineer and is now a business executive at Pfizer . Among his credentials , Curran is a certified business trainer and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt with an MS in Human Resources Education and an MBA in Finance from
Fordham University .
Curran brings a deep conviction to helping veterans live their lives with purpose . “ Our country needs veterans to take everything they ’ ve been through , fully transition back to civilian life , and continue to serve as leaders within their jobs , their families , and their communities ,” he said . Graduates who have achieved career success are encouraged to return and mentor others . Several veterans ’ organizations are providing business and relationship resources , including TEAM RWB , Team Rubicon , and Edge4Vets .
A group of veterans completed a financial literacy program with Curran at RCC last Spring . Student Rebekah Stanford , speaking about the effect on her family said , “ We have overcome so much after taking this class . We paid off close to $ 20K of our debt since our final presentation . The lessons learned have relieved a lot of stress we were feeling at the beginning of the year .”
Another participant , John Vitale , said he would recommend this course to every veteran . “ You see blind spots and make plans to fix them ,” he said .
RCC is a military-friendly institution , offering this open-to-the-public program free .
For more information , contact Jonathan Barnwell , Coordinator of Veterans Affairs , jbarnwel @ sunyrockland . edu .
Elizabeth Perez of Student Involvement assists with distribution of holiday food boxes for students .
Your Bachelor of Business Degree is Closer Than You Think
Earn your Bachelor of Business Administration degree from SUNY Cobleskill at Rockland Community College .
Take your associate degree to the next level . Evening and Weekends Classes Available .
cobleskill . edu / rockland
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
518.255.5528 pace @ cobleskill . edu
SCENE is published quarterly by Campus Communications
campuscomm @ sunyrockland . edu 845-574-4032 • www . sunyrockland . edu
Faculty Union Donates 250 Holiday Food Boxes to Students
While the holiday gift most college students would like from their professors would probably be an easy “ A ,” the faculty union at Rockland Community College showed their generosity in a different way – by distributing 250 boxes containing family holiday meals to students in need .
Each box contained a turkey or ham , potatoes , stuffing , pie , and other provisions needed for a festive family holiday meal . The boxes were distributed at the College ’ s Food Pantry , and students without cars were even provided with a ride home with their holiday box .
Rockland Community College Federation of Teachers , or RCCFT , donated $ 14,750 to purchase 250 family holiday meal boxes .
“ We are very pleased to be able to help our students and their families who may be struggling to make ends meet during this holiday season ,” said Bill Baker , Professor of Biology and President of the Faculty Union .
SCENE | 2