The Oakland Community College Student Veterans’ of America organization (OCCSVA) will hold a grand opening celebration of its new Resource Center at OCC’s Auburn Hills Campus.   Veterans from the community are invited to attend the free, public event that will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 13, in the campus’ Student Center, Room G240. 

The Resource Center, which will be manned on a daily basis and will hold information sessions and seminars on occasion, is located in the Student Center’s Room G103.

“This is a large conference room stocked with literature on resources for veterans and is available for workshops and meetings. All vets are welcome,” said OCCSVA President Kate Logan, who served 18 months in Iraq with the U.S. Army.

Guest speaker is retired Maj. Gen. Robert W. Smith, director of the State of Michigan Veterans’ Services Division.  Smith will speak about how his organization helps vets become more employment- and school-ready, and eases their reintegration into civilian society.

 “I thank OCC for establishing a center like this that is vet-friendly, helps them succeed, enables them to bond, and makes their educational experience even more positive” Smith said.

Representatives of other veterans’ organizations will be on hand to provide information on additional resources.

Co-advisors for veterans center are Auburn Hills Campus Counselor Patricia Shipp May and Homeland Security Program faculty member Ken Van Sparrentak.

The Auburn Hills Campus is located at 2900 Featherstone Road, one mile east of the Pontiac Silverdome.  Free parking is available in nearby campus lots.

For more information, email occ.studentveterans@gmail.com.