BUTLER TWP — Butler County Community College today is having a grand opening of its new student veterans lounge.

It is in the Student Success Center and has chairs, a television and computer.

The college has enhanced efforts to help student veterans feel welcomed by having veteran experts in financial aid help with their paperwork, having speakers talk about the transition from combat to campus and having the Student Veterans Association play a role in the improvements student veterans want.

The SVA, which had been inactive for five years, became active again last school year and has played a role giving student veterans a voice and a space at BC3.

“Military camaraderie is a different animal,” said Jason Brannon, a SVA officer and second year homeland security major. “We’ve done some of the same thing, shared some of the same struggles,” and it is easy to make a connection with fellow veterans.

Case Willoughby, vice president for Student Services, said veterans serving in every conflict from the Vietnam War on are represented at BC3.

“We’re trying to raise awareness of the issues veterans face, but without stereotyping them,” he said.