LCCC is marching forward in its efforts to encourage more veterans of the armed forces to return to college. Currently, about 100 veterans are enrolled in the college in a variety of courses from general studies to the aviation program.

The college also offers support to the students, including study skills workshops, stress management and tutoring. The Schwenksville campus has a special veterans' lounge, complete with computers and printers; plans are in the works to create a similar spot at the LCCC J.E. Morgan Center in Tamaqua."The lounge is open to veterans and other adult students, which gives them a place to hang around, do schoolwork and be with other veterans," said Gloria Lowell, LCCC Veterans and Returning Adults Specialist. "The veterans' lounge and the Veterans' Club, which meets twice a month, give them a way to support each other as they return to school."We also offer workshops in computer literacy," she said. "When we work with a veteran or a returning adult, we create a team of people to help in the transition back to being a college student."LCCC is helping organize a special event called academics for veterans, to be held Feb. 28 at Moravian College. See www.a'sforveterans.com for more information. In addition, a veterans symposium will be held April 11 at LCCC in Tamaqua."We're very proud of our veterans' outreach programs," Lowell said. "We want to do our best to reach out and let veterans know about educational opportunities and benefits which may be available."Scholarships are available through the GI Bill for disabled veterans, honorably discharged veterans, reservists and members of the National Guard.