Tarrant County College earns third consecutive Gold award for military student services
Photo courtesy of Tarrant County College
Tarrant County College has received the Texas Veterans Commission’s Gold Veterans Education Excellence Recognition Award for the third consecutive year, recognizing its work supporting military-connected students.
The award was presented Oct. 5 at the Texas A&M University System Military-Affiliated Symposium in Frisco. Gold is the highest honor in the noncompetitive program established by the Legislature to recognize public colleges and universities for excellence in education and related services for veterans and military-connected students.
The recognition reflects work throughout Tarrant County College, particularly through its Veterans Resource Centers and the counselors who lead them.
“At TCC, we see the unique experiences and strengths military-connected students bring to our College community,” said Janay Alston-Burnett, Trinity River vice president of student affairs. “We help students navigate college resources, overcome barriers and access the support they need. Our commitment is to ensure that every military-connected student feels valued and empowered.”
The Texas Veterans Commission evaluates colleges on services including centralized resources, designated contacts for student veterans, tailored admissions and orientation, academic support, mental health and disability services, and career counseling. Other criteria include participation in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs work-study program, veterans-oriented organizations, housing policies, and faculty and staff training.
Billy Jackson, a social work major and U.S. Navy veteran, said the Veterans Resource Center helped him rebuild his confidence after returning to school.
“The VRC provided me with a place where I could sit, gather my thoughts and work through the doubts that come with transitioning back into academic life,” Jackson said.
He said the center also helped him reconnect with the camaraderie he missed after serving. Jackson credited the staff’s mentorship and guidance with continuing to shape his academic journey, adding that the VRC supported him as a student, veteran and person building a new chapter of life.
Tarrant County College serves nearly 100,000 students each year through multiple campuses and TCC Connect, its fully online learning option.