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El Paso Community College (EPCC) recently hit a milestone by snagging the 2025 Gold Veterans Education Excellence Recognition Award (VEERA) from the Texas Veterans Commission. This award is a pretty big deal; it's given to Texas public institutions that excel at supporting veterans and their families with educational and support services. EPCC has outshone as one of thirty-three institutions in Texas to grab this honor, according to EPCC News. In a move that sounds less like bureaucracy and more like genuine improvement, EPCC's Veterans Resource Center (VRC) has undergone a total overhaul under the guidance of Retired Sergeant Major Carl Dwyer. “When the Veterans Resource Center (VRC) was moved to my Division, the Center had been closed and there was no staff at all," Associate Vice President for Instruction and Student Success, Dr. Paula Mitchell, recounted EPCC's journey to excellence, as per EPCC News. The success story led not only to the relaunch of the Student Veterans Organization but also linked EPCC's military-affiliated community with local veteran service orgs, something Mitchell, a veteran themself, is justifiably stoked about. "But, to receive the Gold level of recognition in our first application was beyond our initial expectations,” Mitchell told EPCC News. Carl Dwyer, the director of the Veterans Resource Center, credits his team for their hard work. And yeah, they've all earned their stripes, given that each staff member is a vet. "This achievement is a direct reflection of the hard work, dedication, and commitment of all of the faculty and staff here at EPCC," Dwyer stated, as obtained by EPCC News, emphasizing the center's aim to provide a welcoming community for veterans adjusting to college life. His team's efforts have been validated by more than just a shiny token; EPCC's name is now synonymous with military-friendly education across the state.
