S.E.E.4VETS, a veterans advocacy group, has established a promising new foothold for transitioning military service members in Yavapai County. The Scottsdale-based organization has created the S.E.E.4VETS Veteran Legacy Endowment with the Yavapai College Foundation. The $20,000 endowed scholarship program will provide funding support for qualified U.S. military veterans seeking to continue their education at Yavapai College.

“Our partnership with S.E.E.4VETS has blossomed over the years and their support has grown to nearly $40,000 in scholarships to veterans at Yavapai College as of 2021.” Jane Hersh, YC’s District Director of Veterans Education and Transition Services, said. “The S.E.E.4Vets Legacy Fund endowment will not only solidify continued support, but will broaden our common interest dedicated to helping those who have served our country excel in college and in life.

S.E.E.4VETS (an acronym for “Support Education and Employment for Vets,”) is an eight-year-old non-profit dedicated to helping veterans complete their education and find success in civilian life. Directed mostly by retired military members, S.E.E.4VETS works through community colleges in the Western United States to find transitioning military members that other programs might miss.

“We were looking for this niche where the veterans community was not being well-served. That’s where we thought we could help.” Lt. Gen (Retired) USAF Vern “Rusty” Findley, S.E.E.4VETS Board Vice Chair, explained. “We looked at the major universities and their [veterans] programs were pretty solid. But we did find some holes at the community college level. That’s where we zeroed in.”

To date, S.E.E.4VETS has worked with ten different Arizona community colleges, and has expanded their operations to Nevada, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Montana and Idaho, offering critical support to transitioning veterans in rural areas, as well as those who lack sufficient funding from existing federal programs.

General Findley says many recipients are working students, “and that has been heartening experience. Keeping them in school and giving them an opportunity to continue to be able to take care of the family while they get their education and move on to a different phase of their life. It’s a good thing, and we’re happy to help with that.”

For more information on the S.E.E.4VETS Veteran Legacy Foundation scholarships, or on other scholarships available through the Yavapai College Foundation, please visit: www.yc.edu/ycf or call (928) 776-2025.

Yavapai College operates six campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers over 100 degrees and certificates, student and community services, and cultural events and activities. To learn more about YC, visit www.yc.edu.