Bossier City, Louisiana – Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) has once again solidified its position as a beacon of support for military-affiliated students by earning recognition as a Top Ten Military Friendly® School and Top Ten Military Friendly® Spouse School for the 2024-2025 academic year. This prestigious designation places BPCC in the top tier of community colleges nationwide, marking the 14th consecutive year the institution has received the esteemed Military Friendly® designation.
Chancellor Dr. Rick Bateman, Jr., expressed his immense pride in the recognition, stating, “I am immensely proud that BPCC has been designated as a Top 10 Military Friendly institution and that this recognition extends to all three of our campus locations. We stand as a beacon of opportunity for veterans and active-duty personnel, providing them with not just an education, but a caring community dedicated to their success.”
Dr. Thorn LaCaze, Campus Director at Natchitoches and Sabine Valley, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the College’s unwavering commitment to supporting those who have served the country. LaCaze highlighted the institution’s dedication to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for all students, underscoring the importance of the Military Friendly® designation.
“We are honored for our Natchitoches and Sabine Valley campuses to be awarded the Gold Designation as Military Friendly campuses,” said LaCaze. “Our focus on providing a Caring Campus Culture ensures that our military-affiliated students feel valued, respected, and empowered to use their military experiences to support reaching their fullest education potential.”
The Veterans Resource Center (VRC) at BPCC, established in 2018 in partnership with Louisiana Tech University, serves as a central hub for military and veteran students to access essential support services on state and federal levels. Susan Stakes, BPCC’s Veterans Resource Center Director, emphasized the center’s role in supporting the military community, offering opportunities for credentialing beyond military careers, and providing a space for camaraderie and support.
“We are so proud to serve our military community by offering them opportunities to earn credentials that will carry them beyond their military careers,” said Stakes. “The center is an inviting space for them to stay plugged into all things military on campus by way of benefits, resources, and camaraderie.”
BPCC’s recognition as a Military Friendly® School was based on comprehensive evaluation utilizing public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey completed by the school. The Military Friendly® rankings list, created through extensive research and input from student veterans and participating institutions, serves as a testament to BPCC’s commitment to supporting military-affiliated students and fostering a culture of inclusivity and support.
The 2024-25 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and available online.
For further information about veterans’ resources at BPCC, visit www.bpcc.edu/veterans.
