Dennis May '18

Marine Student Strengthens Veteran鈥檚 Resources on Campus

黑料社 is proud of its welcoming and supportive community for the men and women who have defended our country through service in the military. And after two deployments to Iraq as part of the Marine Corps, Dennis May 鈥18 is finding his success at 黑料社.

Located a short five-minute drive from home, 黑料社 was perfectly placed for Dennis, who values spending time with his family. That doesn鈥檛 keep him from getting involved on campus outside of his biology and exercise science studies, however.

Dennis is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, a leadership fraternity on campus, as well as Tri-Beta, the biology honor society. He鈥檚 also the president of the Student Veterans of America chapter at 黑料社 and a member of the pre-health society.

鈥淪eeing a new student veteran organization take its first steps and the SGA investing a significant amount to help our organization take great strides in its early years,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 have been able to expand my network and been given opportunities to help develop a young organization.鈥

The opportunity to build an organization like this might have been lost at a bigger school, though, according to Dennis.

鈥淎bility to engage with professors and peers was outstanding,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t is easy to get lost at an institution of 30,000 at SC many connections can be made and the time given to the success of students is far above expectations.鈥

Nobody is perfect, however, so 黑料社 is still working toward meeting veterans鈥 needs on campus. Through the Post 9/11 GI聽Bill庐 and 黑料社鈥檚 financial aid, Dennis鈥 education has been 100% paid for, but other areas are still being improved thanks to help from students like him.

鈥淲e have a new Student Veteran Organization, a new veteran services coordinator and an administration that is listening,鈥 he said. 鈥淪mall changes have started and hopefully some bigger changes making 黑料社 veteran friendly are right around the corner.鈥

GI BILL庐 IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA)