First Veterans Resource Fair Held at FCC

The Fresno City College Veterans Resource Center held its first resource fair on April 5 in the rose garden in front of the Old Administration Building from 9 a.m. until noon, when a lunch was provided to veterans and fair attendees.

The resource fair was organized by Mary Alfieris, the coordinator of international students and veteran services, along with the Veterans Resource Center.

The event began with a welcome address given by Alfieris. The presentation of the color guard was followed by the pledge of allegiance, and the national anthem was sung by Faten Myazne Kassabian.

Dean of Students Sean Henderson introduced Paul Parnell, chancellor for the State Center Community College District, Joseph Madrigal, the interim vice president of student services, and Monica Cuevas, the dean of counseling.

During the fair, veteran students were able to get information from organizations aimed at veterans in the community.

“I’m familiar with some of these programs, and for them to come to this fair, it has the potential to help out a lot of veterans,” said student veteran James Skinner Jr., a counseling major. He said, “hopefully in the future there will be more of these type of events aimed at veterans.”

Some of the community organizations at the fair ranged from the Fresno County Veteran Services Office, Fresno Vet Center, VA Vet Center, California Department of Veteran Affairs and Fresno State TRIO for Veterans.

FCC also had campus services present at the fair like Mikki Johnson, the director of financial aid, Lisa Chaney, the coordinator of health services, Cindy Dunn, the coordinator of the career/employment center, Kathy Bonilla from the public information office and William Coleman, president of FCC’s Veterans Club.

The event ended at noon when everyone who participated in the fair along with veteran students were invited to a barbecue chicken lunch in OAB 251, where Alfieris thank everyone for coming out and helping make the fair a success.

“We wanted to bring this information to the campus so that our student veterans are familiar with what’s available out there in the community,” said Alfieris. She also said she is looking to grow the fair in the future. “It’s important for student veterans to avail themselves to this type of information.”