CFCC honors veterans, student veterans

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Cape Fear Community College honored veterans and student veterans with a special ceremony on Veterans Day.

A CFCC spokesman said the veteran population is especially important, because veterans represent an estimated 10% of the student body. This is also the fifth year Victoria Media named CFCC a military friendly school. The company recognizes higher-education institutions that exhibit leading services to post-military students.

During the ceremony, it was all about the veterans and especially the student veterans. Staff Sergeant David Nilson was one of the guest speakers. Nilson is a retired US Marine and a CFCC student. His service dog Sonny was right by his side.

President of the Student Veterans Association  and student veteran Jennifer Hayes also spoke during the ceremony. She said the ceremony is an important reminder that she did not choose to go to college right away. She chose to serve her country first.

“I think we kind of get lost in the school work and we don’t really think about what we’ve done and the sacrifice that we’ve made,” Hayes said. “I think recognizing our accomplishments and just helping us to remember that we are important is a big deal.”

Honor flags were also displayed surrounded the ceremony. The flags recognize CFCC’s student and staff veterans and their loved ones.

CFCC also opened the student veterans center in 2010 to better serve the needs of the growing military population in the area.