History of the VTC
On September 16, 2005, the University of Minnesota announced that it would sponsor Comfort for Courage’s proposed Veterans Transition Center on the University’s campus.
“This transition center aims to offer a safe-haven and help curb the disturbingly high drop out rate of veterans who return to school,� said Andy Davis, chairman of Comfort for Courage. “We are excited about this opportunity, because we could feel the influx of veterans returning to school similar to what the country felt after World War II.�
During the fall 2005 semester, Comfort for Courage and the University of Minnesota worked to establish the new transition center in Eddy Hall. Volunteers, many of them student veterans, staff the transition center. The VTC exists mainly as a place for veterans to meet other veterans and develop a new support system. Information about educational and other veteran-related resources is also readily available and shared within the student veteran community.
“A solid education is the foundation for achieving personal goals and successes,� said Jerry Rinehart, the university’s Vice Provost for Student Affairs. “We want to ensure that returning student veterans have the support they need to make the most out of their learning experience. We applaud Comfort for Courage’s forward thinking and compassion for the men and women who serve our country.�
Comfort for Courage is a student-led, non-profit, non-partisan effort to support the nation’s armed services. Since its inception in November 2004, Comfort for Courage has shipped more than seven tons of comfort items to service-men and -women serving overseas. Two University of Minnesota students, Andy Davis and Tony Richter, founded the organization. Andy Davis is a former Army Ranger who served three combat tours in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Tony Richter graduated from the University's Carlson School of Management in 2007.