Beyond the Yellow Ribbon at DCTC

Dakota County Technical College proclaimed a Yellow Ribbon Company

At an awards ceremony during the Yellow Ribbon Summit held in Farmington, Minn., Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010, Dakota County Technical College was proclaimed a Yellow Ribbon Company as part of the statewide Beyond the Yellow Ribbon campaign. Beyond the Yellow Ribbon raises awareness and connects Minnesota military personnel and their families through community support, training, services and resources.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Maj. Gen. Larry W. Shellito, adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard, were present at the ceremony as were representatives from a number of Yellow Ribbon Communities and Companies.

Yellow Ribbon Companies have developed a sustainable action plan for supporting military families during the deployment cycle and after service members return home. Often families of service members on deployment believe their situation goes unnoticed by their local communities. Families may even feel apprehensive about asking for needed support.

DCTC Student Life Director Nicole Meulemans has worked closely with Katherine Bachman, coordinator of the South Metro Region Higher Education Veterans Program, to make the college a one-stop resource for veterans. “We host Katherine’s program on our campus,” Meulemans said. “We also have a Veterans Resource Center in our newly renovated Student Life Center.”

(left to right) Gov. Tim Pawlenty, DCTC Pres. Ron Thomas, Student Life Director Nicole Meulemans, Katherine Bachman, Coordinator, South Metro Region Higher Education Veterans Program, Kerry Lurken, DCTC financial aid specialist, Maj. Gen. Larry Shellito, Minnesota National Guard

DCTC supports veterans and active duty military personnel as well as their families through a range of services and programs:

Active Veterans Club on campus; members are eligible for additional scholarships through Student Life
Career Center staff is equipped with the expert knowledge to assist veterans with their career plans
In February 2010, DCTC held Blue Knights for Red Bulls, a free, one-day vehicle safety inspection clinic to assist active-duty military personnel and their families
- Future clinics are planned for one or two times a year
In November 2009, DCTC held the first ever Military Family Day on campus
- The event featured a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter landing and a visit from a KARE 11 news crew
Creating a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon volunteer list composed of DCTC faculty and staff
- List will be in place December 2010
Offering to host Beyond the Yellow Ribbon meeting and seminars for free on campus
Service-learning and civic engagement projects for veterans in the works through the following academic programs:
- Landscape Horticulture
- Dental Assistant
- Automotive Technician
- Auto Body Collision Technology
DCTC faculty and staff to serve as job coaches in the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Mentorship program
- Job coaches in place by May 2011
DCTC is committed to the Yellow Ribbon Network in Rosemount, Minn.
G.I. Jobs named our college a Military Friendly School for 2011