Lake Technical College held its first Annual Veterans Day Breakfast on Tuesday, November 5th to honor students and staff that have served in our armed forces. The event opened with a welcome from Dr. Diane Culpepper, Executive Director, and a flag raising ceremony. The colors were presented by Lake Tech’s Law Enforcement recruits and the national anthem was performed by Russell Darst, one of Lake Tech’s Career Advisors, who also served proudly in the Navy. Attendees were treated to a wonderful breakfast prepared by the Professional Culinary Arts program. Each Veteran received a Lake Tech challenge coin as a token of appreciation for their service. “We are proud to serve our veterans. This breakfast allowed us to show our support and gratitude, in just a small way, of our veteran students, staff, and board members,” said Dr. Diane Culpepper.
The keynote speaker for the event Keith Totten, founder of One Team One Fight 4 PTSD and a Lake Tech alumni, spoke about his organization’s mission to serve local Veterans. He also shared his experiences as a Lake Tech student, and how his time here helped him adjust upon returning from deployment. On behalf of One Team One Fight for PTSD, Mr. Totten presented the “I Got Your 6” $1000 scholarship to CNC Production Specialist student, David Didier. David served in the Navy and is also one of Lake Tech’s Student Ambassadors.
Many of Lake Technical College’s programs are approved for VA benefits. Veterans who are interested in using their VA benefits can contact the Financial Aid office for assistance. Lake Tech is honored to provide educational opportunities to our local veterans. You can find more information about Lake Tech’s programs by visiting www.laketech.org.
If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Christine Robertson at 352-589-2250 Ext. 1835.
