Veteran and NCC Grad Tells Story of College Success

NASHUA - Nashua Community College graduate and veteran Richard O’Donnell graduated with his bachelor’s in Criminal Justice and Homeland Security from UMASS Lowell in 2019, and now works at Harbor Homes where he helps fellow veterans find work.

O’Donnell’s higher education journey began at Nashua Community College, where his military experience brought him more than halfway toward graduation. He served in the U.S. Army as a Tanker with teaching and leadership experience. After his service, O’Donnell enrolled in the General Studies program at Nashua Community College and graduated in December 2016.

“Nashua Community College gave me a lot of credit for my military experience,” said O’Donnell. General Studies is a common choice for veterans.

“General Studies helps veterans to leverage their military experience into college credits and get ahead on their path toward earning an associate degree,” said Corrina Jordan, NCC Academic Advisor and VA Certifying Official.

After NCC, O’Donnell enrolled in the Criminal Justice/Homeland Security program at UMASS Lowell and graduated in 2019. He then launched a new career at Harbor Homes in Nashua after an extensive job search.

“I love it - I’m helping other veterans. What I do is I help homeless veterans find jobs; I help them with their résumés and job searches. It’s a lot of networking,” he said.

O’Donnell underscored the importance of translating military experience into college credit, “I only had to take 5 or 6 classes at NCC; it was enough to get a degree.” Beyond the credits, he also found a supportive environment at the college. “All the teachers were really helpful, especially when I was taking math and I needed a math tutor - it helped me pass the class,” he said, adding the support from advisor Corrina Jordan was especially meaningful.

“There are a lot of resources I know a lot of veterans didn’t know were available,” said O’Donnell. He encouraged other veterans considering college to “ask questions.”

“Talk to your VA rep; she steered me right.”

Lastly, the general studies program provided a low-cost avenue to explore his options and discover what he wanted to pursue. “I learned what worked, and what didn’t work. They got me on the right track.”

To learn more about college services for veterans, contact the NCC Advising Center at 603.578.8906, or nccacademicadvisingcenter@ccsnh.edu. Or visit the website, nashuacc.edu. The spring 2020 semester begins January 21, 2020.

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