ARTICLE
After his ninth year in the Marine Corps and following five deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, RJ Boniface decided it was time to start a new chapter in his life. In 2012, the 28-year-old left the military and entered a competitive job market. Finding it difficult to start a career, he realized he needed a college degree and enrolled in classes at MiraCosta College. “The transition from military life to student life was easy because MiraCosta is so vet-friendly,” said Boniface, who has since completed an associate of arts degree in accounting and will transfer to California State University, Long Beach in January 2015. “Plus, I very much appreciated having a space here at the college where veterans can share experiences and build relationships.” In order to better serve more veterans like Boniface, MiraCosta College opened a new Veterans Information Center at its Oceanside Campus. The grand opening took place on November 10, 2014, in conjunction with the college’s celebration of the 239th Marine Corps Birthday and Veteran’s Day. The center, located inside the T100 building, is double the size of the original center, which opened in 2009 inside an old office on the other side of campus. “Having a bigger Veterans Information Center is great because you have a lot of veterans who come to school and want a space to study and hangout for camaraderie,” said Hector Rodriguez, a Marine Corps veteran and MiraCosta College Veterans Club president. “This will help veterans to become more successful too, knowing that the college cares.” MiraCosta’s veteran population has ballooned over the past 10 years. In 2003, the college served approximately 900 active-duty and veteran students. Today, MiraCosta enrolls nearly 1,500 active-duty and veteran students, plus an additional 800 of their family members. In addition to finding a bigger space to serve the larger veteran population, the college also remodeled the building’s interior and exterior. “The renovation of this building next to me is more than a place for veterans to congregate," former Marine Kevin Sandoval and peer adviser said. “This site will provide a place for veterans to lay their worries and raise their ideas. It’s going to provide a place for veterans to remember their friends and create new ones.“ Bill Kuhnert, owner of bkm OfficeWorks, a San Diego based workspace solution dealer, became involved with the project and generously donated all new furniture. “We’re very thankful for all that our veterans do for us and our country,” said Kuhnert. “I want veterans to be able to go to MiraCosta College and know they have a place where they can get help, be cared for and be comfortable. They deserve all of this and more.” Along with new furnishings, the center also has a computer lab with eight computers and a lounge area in which students can network and hold meetings. Veterans counselors and the Veterans Student Services coordinator, secretary and peer advisers are also located at the center. “This wonderful facility is an excellent addition to the campus and will assist a growing number of men and women who have served their country and who absolutely deserve our admiration and support,” said MiraCosta College Interim Superintendent/President Richard Robertson. To view more photos from the grand opening, please visit our Flickr page. KOCT also filmed the event and created a highlights video. Please view the video on our official MiraCosta College YouTube page.
After his ninth year in the Marine Corps and following five deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, RJ Boniface decided it was time to start a new chapter in his life. In 2012, the 28-year-old left the military and entered a competitive job market. Finding it difficult to start a career, he realized he needed a college degree and enrolled in classes at MiraCosta College. “The transition from military life to student life was easy because MiraCosta is so vet-friendly,” said Boniface, who has since completed an associate of arts degree in accounting and will transfer to California State University, Long Beach in January 2015. “Plus, I very much appreciated having a
space here at the college where veterans can share experiences and build relationships.” In order to better serve more veterans like Boniface, MiraCosta College opened a new Veterans Information Center at its Oceanside Campus. The grand opening took place on November 10, 2014, in conjunction with the college’s celebration of the 239th Marine Corps Birthday and Veteran’s Day. The center, located inside the T100 building, is double the size of the original center, which opened in 2009 inside an old office on the other side of campus. “Having a bigger Veterans Information Center is great because you have a lot of veterans who come to school and want a space to study and hangout for camaraderie,” said Hector Rodriguez, a Marine Corps veteran and MiraCosta College Veterans Club president. “This will help veterans to become more successful too, knowing that the college cares.”
MiraCosta’s veteran population has ballooned over the past 10 years. In 2003, the college
served approximately 900 active-duty and veteran students.
Today, MiraCosta enrolls nearly 1,500 active-duty and veteran students, plus an additional 800 of their family members.
In addition to finding a bigger space to serve the larger veteran population, the college also remodeled the building’s interior and exterior. “The renovation of this building next to me is more than a place for veterans to congregate," former Marine Kevin Sandoval and peer adviser said. “This site will provide a place for veterans to lay their worries and raise their ideas. It’s going to provide a place for veterans to remember their friends and create new ones.“ Bill Kuhnert, owner of bkm OfficeWorks, a San Diego based workspace solution dealer, became involved with the project and generously donated all new furniture. “We’re very thankful for all that our veterans do for us and our country,” said Kuhnert. “I want veterans to be able to go to MiraCosta College and know they have a place where they can get help, be cared for and be comfortable. They deserve all of this and more.” Along with new furnishings, the center also has a computer lab with eight computers and a lounge area in which students can network and hold meetings. Veterans counselors and the Veterans Student Services coordinator, secretary and peer advisers are also located at the center. “This wonderful facility is an excellent addition to the campus and will assist a growing number of men and women who have served their country and who absolutely deserve our admiration and support,” said MiraCosta College Interim Superintendent/President Richard Robertson. To view more photos from the grand opening, please visit our Flickr page. KOCT also filmed the event and created a highlights video. Please view the video on our official MiraCosta College YouTube page.