SANFORD -- Central Carolina Community College is host to the Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) program for veterans in Chatham, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, and Wake counties.

VUB is a program funded by the U.S. Department of Education to assist veterans in preparing to enroll and be successful in college. The program provides veterans with free services such as academic refresher courses, career counseling, skill-building workshops, assistance with securing services from other agencies that serve veterans, assistance with college admissions and financial aid applications, and assistance entering into postsecondary education.

The services provided to each participant are personalized based on the veteran's needs, and length of enrollment depends upon the educational plan they create with the VUB staff. The primary goal of the program is to increase the number of veterans that enroll in and complete college degrees.

Since October 2012, over 200 veterans have been served through the program.

"Veterans Upward Bound helps veterans prepare for college academics and the college environment in a way that reduces the intimidation factor that adults sometimes feel when they think about returning to school, and builds their confidence so that when they enroll, they know they will be successful," said Ashley Tittemore, CCCC's Director of TRiO Programs.

"We also help our veterans explore their options, both in terms of colleges and programs of study, and careers. After a participant has identified where they would like to go to school, we walk them through the process of applying for college admission and financial aid," said Tittemore. "Services are very personalized so that each veteran knows our staff cares about their individual success, and participants have the opportunity to meet other veterans going through the same process.

"The program also helps veterans address other areas of their life which can impact their future success in college, such as employment, financial planning, and physical or mental health, to name a few."

Wilson Lester, Outreach Coordinator with the VUB Program, notes that he would convey to veterans that VUB is a Battle Buddy in the preparation and pursuit of postsecondary education. "We team with veterans to support their endeavors in academic success and personal progress," he said.

"This past fall, we had two veterans taking a math refresher course. One of them was a young Army veteran in his mid-twenties. The other was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran breaching 50. It was interesting to see the friendship develop between the two because of their common denominator -- military service," said Lester. "Both in need of support to reach their goal of enrolling in school somehow found encouragement in not wanting to let the other down by not showing up to finish the mission they started together. Both made great improvements in their math skills and found success enrolling in post-secondary education, and are now down range on their next mission -- earning college degrees.

Central Carolina Community College is proud to be a Military Friendly(R) School as designated by Victory Media. The Military Friendly(R) Schools designation is awarded to the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students, and to dedicate resources to ensure their success in the classroom and after graduation.

"The fact that CCCC is a Military Friendly(R) School tells our veterans who are interested in enrolling in postsecondary education that they are welcome here, and that our institution will do everything we can to make their experience in college a positive and successful one," said Tittemore.

"Veterans Upward Bound staff members, who are devoted strictly to serving veterans, take this designation to heart and focus on assisting veterans with preparing for the college environment and supporting their academic success," said Lester. "The recognition as a Military Friendly(R) School has also demonstrated that VUB's contributions have added to Central Carolina Community College's ability to successfully support military veterans from our communities as they pursue college degrees."

The Veterans Upward Bound program at CCCC is actively seeking applicants for the program throughout the summer. Veterans can apply to CCCC's VUB program by completing an application available at the website www.cccc.edu/vub, visiting the office in Hockaday Hall on CCCC's Lee County Campus, or by calling (919) 718-7463. For further information on the program, please call or email to veteransub@cccc.edu.