- April 19, 2024
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Officials say the organization will help both veterans and the community.
Chuck Solustri, military admissions representative for WyoTech Daytona, said 22 veterans across the nation commit suicide every day. That’s one of the reasons he believes the new AMVETS post on the school’s campus is needed.
“It’s another outreach to the veterans,” he said. Out of 260 students at the school, which is located at Destination Daytona, about 100 are veterans.
The post that was started on Jan. 15 at WyoTech is the first AMVETS post at a post-secondary school.
“This is a pilot program for AMVETS,” said Horace Johnson, first vice commander for membership for Florida. “It’s the first of its kind in the nation. It’s a great idea and if it works we’ll have it other places.”
AMVETS accepts all veterans with honorable discharges, whether or not they served during wartime. The organization provides scholarships, processes claims, assists veterans, conducts community events and supports other organizations. There are 79 posts in Florida.
Allen Baggett, department commander, said it’s refreshing to see young people join the organization.
“The average age of AMVETS is 65,” he said. “We need the younger people.”
The WyoTech campus, which offers training in motorcycle and marine technology, has a lot of young candidates.
Solustri, who travels to bases to let military people know about G.I. Bill educational opportunities, said so far 40 WyoTech students have petitioned for membership in the AMVETS post. The membership is transferable, so if a student graduates and moves away, he can be a member at a post in that location.
He said veterans miss the camaraderie and teamwork they had in the service, and sometimes feel lost when they get out. The post on campus will provide an opportunity for the vets to work on community projects together, such as helping Habitat for Humanity and conducting motorcycle rides for charity.
“They really want to give back to the community,” he said.
Several AMVETS state officials attended a ceremony on Jan. 15 to officially inaugurate the post. It was held at a memorial in back of the school that was built by students to honor veterans who gave their life.
Charley Sikes, an instructor, said the memorial provides a quiet place for students to be alone or talk with others.
“It’s always busy with lots of people in the building,” he said.
Sikes said having the post at the school started with the school contacting AMVETS.
“We’re excited for the school, the veterans and the community,” he said.
Military veteran Mitch Mouton, a student at WyoTech who joined AMVETS, agreed.
“The service agencies are our best friend when we get out,” he said. “They fight for our rights and help us find where to get help.”
Kareena Salter, president of WyoTech, said she was thrilled.
“This is groundbreaking,” she said.
The post will be AMVETS Post 1966, because WyoTech was formed in 1966, Salter said.
WyoTech looking forward to future after rocky year
Salter said the school is still going strong after a year of allegations that resulted in Corinthian Colleges, a California company, reaching a deal with the U.S. Dept. of Education to sell its 56 WyoTech schools, including WyoTech Daytona.
Corinthian had been placed on oversight by the department after concerns of faulty job placement data being marketed to students.
The closing is planned to take place on Feb. 5. Salter said she is looking forward to working for the new owner, ECMC Group, a nonprofit company that collects student debt for the government.
“It’s a win for the school and the community,” she said. “We do a lot of volunteering for the community and employ 80 people at our campus.”
On their website, ECMC says they plan to increase affordability, accountability, improved job placement and individualized support.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity for us to make a difference in career education by offering students a new path for gaining the in-demand skills and training that employers are seeking,” said David Hawn, president and CEO of ECMC Group, in a press release.
Salter said the job placement rate at WyoTech is about 80% for graduates, but points out that some students are retired and attend the school for their hobby.
As far as being under new ownership, she said they are “thrilled to be moving forward and getting past the negative press.”
Salter said the key part of the allegations was when a former student said an advisor told him he would be a certified Harley-Davidson mechanic upon graduation. An arbitrator awarded him a settlement from the school.
Salter said she does not believe the advisor would have said that, because the school has never provided certification.
“Not once was this ever proven,” she said. “Nothing was ever proven in a court of law.”
When students graduate from WyoTech, they receive a diploma, she said. Certification must be received from Harley-Davidson Corp.
“Anyone who has attended WyoTech knows that our first and foremost focus is our students and always has been,” she said.
