CCC Employee Honored for Work with Veterans

Monday, August 17, 2009

Clackamas Community College employee Sharon Maggard was honored last week for lifetime achievement for her work with veterans. Maggard received the Bill Pearson Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual conference of the organization for veterans education specialists, held in Oklahoma City.

The Western Association of Veterans Education Specialists (WAVES) represents hundreds of people at higher education institutions in 15 western states who work in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Bill Pearson award is given annually to individuals who have demonstrated concern and consistent effort toward programs and services for veterans.

Maggard is the veterans' student services coordinator at CCC, working with veterans and dependants to access educational benefits. She also serves as adviser to the college's Veterans Club.

Clackamas has increased efforts to serve veterans over the past few years. The college is one of 20 institutions across the United States to receive a $100,000 grant to serve veterans, awarded through the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Wal-Mart Foundation.

In addition, CCC received a $381,000 congressional award last month targeted toward outreach for military returning from active duty. The college works closely with the Oregon National Guard on reintegration efforts, and the CCC Foundation created the Military Families Scholarship Endowment two years ago to provide educational support for families of soldiers.

For more information, please call Sharon Maggard at 503-657-6958, ext. 2554.