Palomar College Interim Superintendent/President Adrian Gonzales, fifth from left, is shown accepting a donation from Wells Fargo Bank designated toward the college’s Veterans Services. Pictured are, from left, Ryan Williams, Interim Enrollment Services Supervisor, Palomar College Camp Pendleton Education Center; Jacob Gillette, Wells Fargo Bank; Chantal Maher, French Professor and Palomar College Foundation President’s Associate; Terrence J. Maher, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF Retired and Palomar College Foundation President’s Associate; Gonzales; Matthew Baugh, President of the Student Veterans Organization; Sidney Matlock, Veterans Services student worker; Jessica Horn, Veterans Services Technician; Shannon Valdez, Veterans Services student worker; and Debbie King, Assistant Director of the Palomar College Foundation. (photo by Melinda Finn)

———————————————————————————————————————————

SAN MARCOS (November 17, 2015) – Palomar College officials accepted a donation of $50,000 from Wells Fargo Bank on Tuesday, November 10, designated toward the college’s Veterans Services. The funds will be used to support job and career services for the college’s military veteran students.

Wells Fargo District Manager Jacob Gillette presented the grant check to Palomar’s Interim Superintendent/President Adrian Gonzales, Foundation representatives, and Veterans Services employees prior to the College’s annual Veterans Day ceremony on the San Marcos campus.

Palomar College is recognized for having one of the largest military veteran populations among all the California community college campuses. The Wells Fargo grant will enable startup of Palomar’s Veteran-Focused Career Opportunities Program (VFCOP), a highly structured program with a successful record in helping veterans find lifelong careers.

“While Wells Fargo has been committed to service members, veterans, and their families for more than 163 years, we’ve really increased our commitment and support over the past three years,” said Jerry Quinn, Wells Fargo Military & Veteran Programs manager. “In 2016 and beyond, we will remain committed to the three areas where we feel we can have the greatest impact: empowering service members and veterans to succeed financially through home ownership, career transition, and financial education.”

“This is an extraordinary investment by Wells Fargo that will benefit not only our students who are military veterans, but also our communities,” said Interim Superintendent/President Adrian Gonzales. “It’s an excellent example of a productive partnership between a respected community institution and Palomar College.”

At the college’s Camp Pendleton Educational Center, a full range of lower division coursework up to and including completion of certificates and associate degrees is available to active duty personnel, their dependents, and civilians.  Camp Pendleton students also have access to services including: admission, assessment (testing), orientation, financial aid, counseling, tutoring, and an ample selection of course offerings on site.

On the San Marcos campus, Palomar operates a full-service Veterans Office with two full-time staff members and more than 20 veteran student workers. The college also has a Veteran’s Resource Center where veteran students have access to tutoring, computers, and a space to gather with fellow veterans.

Additional services provided by the college include tutoring, personal counseling, a resource guide to community services, resume workshops, career services, job fairs, food assistance, textbook assistance, disabled student services and Extended Opportunities programs for students who are educationally, socially or economically disadvantaged.

“We’re very grateful for the generous support of Wells Fargo,” said Foundation executive director Richard Talmo. “Their gift will change the lives of hundreds of Palomar College veterans.”

#   #   #

CONTACTS:
Melinda Finn, Public Affairs Office, 760-744-1150, ext. 2365, mfinn@palomar.edu
Laura Gropen, Director, Public Affairs Office, 760_744-1150, ext. 2152, lgropen@palomar.edu
Debbie King, Foundation, 760-744-1150, ext. 2735, dking1@palomar.edu