SPC Earns 2023 VEERA Award

St. Philip’s College earned the 2023 Veteran Education Excellence Recognition Award (VEERA) – Gold Level from the Texas Veterans Commission.

The Texas State Legislature established the VEERA program to recognize public colleges and universities for their excellence in providing education and related services to veterans and the military-connected community. St. Philip’s College showcased its commitment to ensuring the academic success of these individuals for the Academic Year 2022-2023.

“This award recognizes and promotes best practices by awarding Gold, Silver, and Bronze level status to those offering such services. SPC Veterans Affairs is proud to receive the Gold Award twice in a row. Receiving this award shows how truly dedicated and invested we are in our veterans here at St. Philip’s College,” said Sr. Coordinator Student Success Office of Veterans Affairs Veronica Griego.

St. Philip's offers priority registration to all veterans, active-duty military members, and their families, and provides a new student orientation experience that goes over benefits. The college hosts a graduation luncheon and outfits graduates with red, white, and blue honor cords to wear at Commencement. Each student also receives a SPC challenge coin.

In addition to the Veteran Affairs Office, SPC is the only college in San Antonio to offer classes at Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland, Randolph, and Fort Sam Houston through Military Support Services.

The Good Samaritan Veterans Outreach and Transition Center at SPC houses more than 70 non-profit partners that provide no-cost services to veterans, service members, and their families, including Veteran Affairs, community, career and financial support, and advocacy. GSVOTC, located at 202 Connelly St., is a community service center open to all veterans, retirees, military families, and active-duty service members, including those currently in the process of transitioning out of the military.

On October 23, 2023, the VEERA award was presented to SPC President Dr. Adena Williams Loston and Griego at Texas A&M University–San Antonio by Texas Veterans Commission Chairwoman Laura Koerner and Executive Director of the Texas Veterans Commission Thomas Palladino Executive.