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Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) President James Vander Hooven and MWCC Foundation Director Carla Zottoli welcomed members of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) on September 24, 2025, as they presented a scholarship donation on behalf of the Vietnam Veterans of America Massachusetts State Council.
Jim Benton, Vice President of the Vietnam Veterans of American State Council and former president of the VVA Local Chapter 907, John Durling, VVA Chapter 907 Vice President, and Ed LaFord, VVA Chapter 340 President, joined college leadership to continue a long-standing tradition of supporting veteran students at MWCC. For more than 20 years, the local VVA Chapters and the VVA Massachusetts State Council have provided both direct and indirect support to the College’s veterans, demonstrating a strong and lasting commitment to student success.
“We are deeply grateful to the VVA state council and local chapters for their decades of generosity,” said MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “Their unwavering support ensures that our veteran students have the resources they need to succeed, and it serves as an inspiring example of community leadership.”
Their annual contributions have not only sustained the MWCC Veterans Scholarship but have also inspired other organizations and community members to give. Today, MWCC is proud to offer six annual scholarships dedicated specifically to veteran students, ensuring access to higher education for those who have served.
“The Vietnam Veterans of America have set the standard for what it means to give back,” added Carla Zottoli, MWCC Foundation Director. “Because of their commitment, more of our veteran students are able to achieve their academic and career goals. Their generosity has created a ripple effect that will benefit our community for years to come.”