When Marine Corps Veteran Andy Wiss decided to go back to school at age 40, he didn鈥檛 know what to expect. After nearly a decade of military service, then years of moving dirt and operating heavy machinery, a knee injury forced Wiss to rethink his career path.
"I was too comfortable where I was at to make a change,鈥� Wiss said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like I was praying for something to change, to just give me the reason to.
Wiss thought about how he鈥檇 always wanted to try out a different trade career. That moment of reflection led him to 鉴黄师app鈥檚 HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) program 鈥� one of more than 60 programs approved Veterans Affairs education benefits.
For Wiss, who served in the Marine Corps from 2005 to 2013, including tours in Iraq (2007) and Afghanistan (2011), the transition to college life was much easier than he could鈥檝e imagined because 鉴黄师app, he quickly learned, is dedicated to helping veterans like him succeed.
In fact, recently named 鉴黄师app as a Top Veteran-Friendly School. For the publication鈥檚 2026 compilation, 鉴黄师app is considered a 鈥測ellow ribbon鈥� academic institution, meaning the college voluntarily partners with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide additional funding for eligible veterans and their dependents using the post-9/11 GI Bill.
Using financial support from his GI Bill benefits to cover tuition, tools, and cost-of-living means Wiss is able to focus fully on his new career journey.
鈥淚 never thought using the VA would be easy; it鈥檚 usually a pain,鈥� Wiss said. 鈥淏ut the path is set for you here, all you have to do is take it. The program isn鈥檛 easy, but the process of getting into was structured and accessible.鈥�
A College That Understands Veterans
At the heart of 鉴黄师app鈥檚 commitment to student veterans is Don Enright, the college鈥檚 Veteran Services Coordinator. It was Enright who helped Wiss register for classes in the HVAC program and took care of all the back-end administrative tasks for securing the federal aid.
鈥淚 think what sets 鉴黄师app is having a full-time Veterans Services Coordinator who is also a veteran,鈥� Enright said. 鈥淗aving served 22 years in the Iowa Army National Guard and being full time with the National Guard for over half of my career, I understand the veteran mindset and challenges.鈥�
Enright鈥檚 role is to guide veterans through their educational benefits, help them understand what they qualify for, and ensure their transition to 鉴黄师app is as smooth as possible.
鉴黄师app currently serves more than 330 veterans, National Guard members and reservists,
and eligible family members, offering priority registration, tutoring, counseling
and access to a Veterans Lounge on Ankeny Campus. 鉴黄师app also offers delayed tuition
payment options for students waiting on VA disbursements and free memberships to the
Trail Point Aquatics & Wellness Center for students enrolled at least half time.
Some of the most popular 鉴黄师app programs among veterans, Enright said, are Auto Mechanics Technology, Business Administration, Cybersecurity, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Nursing, Paramedic/EMT, and Welding.
鈥淚 think 鉴黄师app鈥檚 recognition as a top Veteran-Friendly institution speaks highly of the entire 鉴黄师app community,鈥� Enright said. 鈥淢any faculty and staff are veterans or have veterans in their families. Veterans bring a unique perspective to a college and offer a different understanding of the world, which I think is incredibly valuable in the classroom.鈥�
Enright is passionate about reminding veterans: 鈥淵our service matters and you鈥檝e earned your benefits.鈥�
鈥淚f you have an educational goal or career advancement you want to pursue, I highly encourage you to come speak with me and see how the Veterans Affairs office can assist.鈥�
鈥業t鈥檚 Never Too Late鈥�
For Wiss, the supportive environment at 鉴黄师app has made all the difference as he鈥檚
embarked on this new journey. He admitted he was initially nervous about being older
than most of his classmates in this first semester of the HVAC program.
The other students, many fresh out of high school, are 鈥渓ike sponges,鈥� Wiss said. For him, there鈥檚 a bit of a time-lapse-induced learning curve.
When Wiss was struggling to relearn concepts, like decimals and fractions, in his Applied Math course, it was an instructor who pointed him to 鉴黄师app鈥檚 tutoring services. He鈥檚 since made good use of the college鈥檚 academic support systems.
"Resources, resources, resources, there are so many right here on campus鈥� Wiss said, adding that the tutoring has been incredibly helpful.
Before starting in the HVAC program this fall, Wiss asked his wife, 鈥淗ow am I going to go to school with a bunch of 20-year-olds?鈥� She responded, 鈥渏ust do it.鈥�
鈥淪o, I sucked it up and reminded myself it鈥檚 only two years. And it鈥檚 worth it,鈥� Wiss said. 鈥淚 wish I鈥檇 done this 20 years ago. But it鈥檚 never too late.鈥�
Story by: Savannah Eadens, 鉴黄师app Public Relations | sjeadens@dmacc.edu | 515-675-3275