Southwestern College celebrated the rededication of the new and expanded Veterans Resource Center and the Sgt. Rafael Peralta Garden of Honor Thursday, Sept. 26. The expanded Veterans’ Resource Center comes with the help of the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office who awarded Southwestern College $200,000 to increase services for student veterans. The grant has allowed Southwestern College to fund a part-time outreach position, a veteran peer-to-peer tutoring program and expand its Veterans Resource Center.
The Sgt. Peralta Garden of Honor is a tribute to the San Diego native and fallen Marine who lost his killed in action on Nov. 15, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq, after pulling a grenade to his body, saving his fellow Marines. In the audience were family members of Sgt. Rafael Peralta and service members of the USS Rafael Peralta, named after the former Southwestern College Police Academy student.
